Bolton shows united front of solidarity following Paris attacks

Residents have joined millions around the world to honour the victims of Friday’s outrage which killed at least 129 people and injured 352.

Impromptu vigils and moments of silence have been seen in the town centre over the weekend as the community tried to come to terms with the barbaric killings.

Among them were mother-of-two Dan Louise Reynolds who organised an unofficial vigil on the steps of the Town Hall on Sunday morning.

The 25-year-old, from Farnworth, wanted to show a mark of respect to Paris by laying flowers, candles and tributes to honour those who had been affected.

A special Facebook page announcing her plans attracted more than 1,400 members, with people praising her thoughtful act.

She said: “I know we are a small town but if everyone pulls together we can show that we are sending our condolences and love.

“It is a mark of respect from a little town to a big city in hope that they see that we all support them.”

Joining her on the Town hall steps was friend Angela Travers, aged 35, with her daughter Lucy, aged 10, also from Farnworth, who came to lay flowers.

Mrs Travers said: “What has happened is shocking and heartbreaking.

“The vigil shows that we all stand up for each other.”

Joyce Davis, aged 67, travelled in from Deane with a friend to place flowers at the vigil after learning about it on Facebook.

She said: “This is a time for all of us to stick together; it doesn’t matter about nationality or religion.

“We need to stand up together and face the cowards who did this.”

On Saturday, visitors to Bolton town centre took part in an impromptu minute’s silence held at the Bolton Drug and Alcohol Service awareness event in Victoria Square at 11am.

Downing Street is also encouraging members of the public to join a Europe-wide minute's silence at 11am today.

Bolton Mayor Carole Swarbrick attended the Bridge Church on Saturday evening where the Eagley Brass Band paid tribute to victims with a rendition of Elgar’s ‘Nimrod’ followed by a minute’s silence.

She said: “Everyone was grateful the organisers did that as we wanted to show our thoughts were with the people of Paris who have been suffering.

“It is dreadful and shocking. We have got to show support to our neighbours and people in other European countries."

Council leader Cliff Morris said council members would be writing to the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, with their condolences.

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, spoke out on Facebook to condemn the "abhorrent" attack.

She said: "My prayers go out to the victms.

"The depravity of the perpetrators is beyond contemptible and any false claims of faith which may emerge are nothing but an affront to and a violation of both sanctity and humanity.

"Let us all stand together, firm and united with compassion and solidarity."

Police chiefs in Greater Manchester stepped up their vigilance in the wake of Friday’s atrocities, but said there was currently no intelligence suggesting an attack is imminent in the county.

Assistant Chief Constable Robert Potts said: “We are strengthening our policing stance across the city and have made strategic changes to both the policing profile of major events and officer presence in key areas of the city to ensure that people feel safe to go about their daily lives.

“The strongest message we can send to the terrorists is to go about our lives as normal, and show that they cannot overcome the people of Greater Manchester by use of fear and intimidation.

“However, we can all play a role in making the streets of our city safer, by remaining vigilant and informing the police immediately of any activity which arouses suspicion.”

The series of attacks and explosions in Paris have been described as the worst act of violence in France since World War Two and the worst terrorist attack in Europe for a decade.

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Gunmen and suicide bombers targeted restaurants, bars, the Bataclan concert hall and the Stade de France.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks.