Queen's funeral: Crowds gathered in Newcastle city centre

The funeral was shown on a big screen in Old Eldon Square

Hundreds of people came together in Newcastle city centre to watch the Queen's funeral.

People of all ages gathered in the September sunshine in front of the big screen in Old Eldon Square.

The atmosphere was quiet and respectful as the usual city centre clatter calmed while the ceremony in London was shown.

Among those observing the national two-minute silence were staff and passengers at Newcastle Central Station.

Tracey Bowman said she wanted to be with other people for the funeral

Tracey Bowman was one of those who went to watch the ceremony.

"I was sitting at home and I've been following the Queen's passing all week and I just felt this overwhelming need to just be with people," she said.

"And it was just this overwhelming need to come down and actually take part in something because I knew it was so important and something that would never be repeated again.

"I'm quite emotional."

People in the crowd spoke about wanting to be together for the ceremony

Respects were paid around the war memorial in Old Eldon Square

Veterans stood watch around the cenotaph for 15 minutes

She remembered seeing the Queen when she visited Newcastle in 1977.

"I was at Cowgate roundabout when she drove past, so I always had that memory of her in her prime and she's always just meant something really important and I don't think the country will ever be the same again without her," she said.

"We've lost, people do say a grandparent, but something solid, something reliable.

"I just wanted to come and mark the occasion in the Toon.

"It's important to remember all the little towns and the cities from around the UK also hold her quite dear."

Justin Evans said he wanted to come and pay his respects

Justin Evans served with Three Tank Squadron in Germany and Catterick and also wanted to pay his respects.

"Even though she was a boss, she was our Queen as well," he said.

"She was everything.

"I think it's fantastic, it just shows how much she was loved. Everybody's come together and shown their respect to Her Majesty."

Mike Brooke and Lesley Roberts both served in the forces

Michael Farmer does not have a television but wanted to watch the funeral

Mike Brooke, a member of the Newcastle and Gateshead Durham Light Infantry Association, is also a member of Newcastle branch of the Fusiliers and served from 1960.

He said: "I feel very important that we come here today because obviously in the North East here we're quite away from London and all the ceremony is happening down there, and it gives people up here a chance to come together and pay our respects to our Majesty."

Alongside him was Lesley Roberts from Gateshead, a member of the Women's Royal Army Corps Association, who served from 1979 to 1984.

"It's very important to show our allegiance because the North East was a hotbed for recruitment for the forces and I feel it's very important to be here," she said.

Former postman Michael Farmer from Seaham, County Durham, said he did not have a television but wanted to come and watch the funeral.

"I haven't had a TV for 15 years and she's part of the country where I grew up so I thought I'd pay respect to that," he said.

Towards the end of the ceremony the Last Post was played followed by a two-minute national silence which was observed across the region.

Staff and passengers paused for the two-minute silence

Among the venues which opened their doors for people to watch the funeral were the Vue cinema in Cramlington, Northumberland.

Three generations of the Brown family from Blyth were there and when five-month-old Daniel started crying they were given their own screening.

His father John said: "He's just turned five months old so when he started crying for a little bit we took him out and they opened a second screen, just for us.

"We wanted to pay our respects to the Queen as a family."

The Brown family had their own screening

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