Hundreds of people gathered in Nottingham’s Old Market Square as part of a national minute’s silence to remember those killed in the Manchester concert bombing.
Shops and offices across Nottinghamshire also fell silent at 11am on Thursday.
Five armed police officers were seen watching over the crowd of around 300 people in the square amid heightened security at landmarks across the UK.
Some people laid flowers on the steps of the Council House, while collection buckets were passed around for donations to a national fund set up to support the victims.
Maria Lane, 60, of Coppull, Lancashire, was in the crowd.
“I’m a Lancashire girl born and bred and I’m absolutely devastated,” she said.
“The little eight year old girl [Saffie Rose Roussos] came from the next village along from where I live so I felt like I had to pay my respects.
“We need to pray for the victims and pray for peace.”
In a statement Notts Police said armed officers work all year round but they will now be slightly more visible in public places because of the increased threat.
The UK’s terror threat level was raised to ‘critical’ on Wednesday in the aftermath of Monday night’s suicide bombing at Manchester Arena, which killed 22 people and injured more than 100.
Mark Smith, who works as a steward for Nottingham Forest, was also at the square.
He said: “We need to pay our respects to these people.
“Men, women and children were there to have fun and they didn’t know what was going to happen later that evening.”
Following the attack vigils and books of condolence had been organised in central points across Nottingham.
A vigil will also be held at the Brian Clough statue on Old Market Square from 6pm.
After three weeks the messages in the condolence books will be sent to Sir Richard Leese, the leader of Manchester City Council.
Kelvin Stevens, 64, of Burton Joyce said: “I heard they were having people come down and pay their respects so I wanted to join.
“It shows unity and solidarity of decent, loving people and It shows how many people are supportive of the people who were affected.”
A statement released jointly by 10 Downing Street, the Foreign Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said flags positioned on Government buildings will remain at half-mast until later today.
Monday’s attack unfolded just after 10:30pm following a concert by US pop Star Ariana Grande.
Police officers were sent from Nottingham to help in the aftermath of the attack.
