16404/2TSUNAMI IN ASIA: THE county fell silent for three minutes on Wednesday to remember the victims of the tsunami disaster.

Across west Wiltshire, workers, shoppers, schoolchildren and emergency service workers took those few moments to think about 140,000 people who lost their lives and the millions more living in the aftermath of the destruction.

At the offices of Wiltshire County Council, in Bythesea Road, workers stopped what they were doing to pay their respects.

A spokesman said: "The fire bell sounded and everyone stopped where they were to observe the three minute silence."

At West Wiltshire District Council offices, in Bradley Road, workers gathered in the reception area to remember the victims together and the flag at the front of the building was flown at half-mast for the day.

Normally bustling town centres were eerily quiet as shoppers stopped in the streets and malls.

At Trowbridge fire station officers lined up in uniform as a mark of respect to those who died.