Queen Elizabeth II: Tributes in Herefordshire and Worcestershire

The Queen and Prince Philip visited Herefordshire and Worcestershire in 2012

Flags have been lowered in Herefordshire and Worcestershire as a sign of respect for the Queen.

Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire Edward Harley said the Queen had been a "constant, reassuring and positive part of all our lives".

People outside Kidderminster Town Hall gave their reaction to news of her death on Thursday.

"I'm absolutely gutted. She's been there all my life and now she's not," said one man.

The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral, aged 96, on Thursday, after reigning for 70 years.

Books of condolence have been opened across Herefordshire, and at Worcester's Guildhall, St George's Catholic Church and Worcester Cathedral.

Angela Moule travelled from Droitwich to sign the book of condolence at Worcester Cathedral

Angela Moule, who laid flowers at Worcester Cathedral's War Memorial on Friday, hailed the Queen as "an "inspiration".

"She's inspired us to do so much through thick and thin, and I think it just shows you that it doesn't matter what happens, you just get on with things," she said.

"She was amazing at that and I loved her to bits, I thought she was just a wonderful lady and I hope she rests in peace."

Well-wishers thronged the streets to welcome the Queen to Hereford in 2012

Ruth Etheridge shared her memories with friends at Upon Baptist Church's knitting club in Upton-upon-Severn.

"She feels like she's our mother or grandmother, and we all feel a lovely affinity with her," she told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"She's been such a great role model in her character and her faith and we all love her, and we'll all miss her."

Mr Harley said the Queen had brought "wisdom, stability and peace and was a positive force for good" throughout her long reign.

She had paid many visits to Herefordshire, most recently for her Diamond Jubilee, when more than 25,000 people attended celebrations in Hereford, he said.

Brian O'Donoghue arranged for a care home resident to meet the Queen in Hereford in 2012

Former care home worker Brian O'Donohue brought a 105-year-old resident to meet the Queen at Hereford's railway station in 2012.

He said: "The queen was genuinely happy she was meeting people. It was the quietness of that meeting that struck me as a totally magical experience. I was honoured to be there."

Worcester's former mayor Roger Berry had lunch with the Queen after formally welcoming her to the city's Guildhall in 2012.

"When we sat down to lunch it was just like sitting down with an old friend really," he said.

"She only talks to one person at a time, so she changes and talks to another person after the course had finished. Now nobody had told me that and I wondered if I'd said something that had upset her, but it wasn't the case."

The monarch met with many people during her visit to the two counties 10 years ago

BBC Hereford and Worcester reporter Nina Das Gupta also spoke to people who were due to attend a jazz event in Kidderminster.

"It's very hard to get my head round at the moment, unfortunately," the man added.

"All of the big celebrations, all of the big occasions she is always there. She always turns up and she was always bright and she was always cheerful, no matter what the occasion."

"She's done a good job bringing up a family and her day job as it were - to live to 96 and still be working right up until she passed is marvellous," said one woman.

The Queen had a long association with Worcester, which she visited as Princess Elizabeth in 1951

The sitting Mayor of Worcester, Adrian Gregson, said the Guildhall's Union Flag was being flown at half-mast.

"The councillors and officers of Worcester City Council are deeply saddened at the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time," he said.

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