Ref. 74443-6SWINDON fell silent for three minutes while people's thoughts turned to the distant shores of the Indian Ocean.

Yesterday's three-minute silence at noon was observed in civic buildings, offices, streets and shopping centres throughout the town.

Flags were at half mast at the offices of Swindon Council, as well as at the Chippenham-based North Wiltshire District Council.

Many companies also observed the silent tribute.

At Honda in South Marston the whole production line ground to a halt as a mark of respect.

A spokeswoman said: "It was decided by the senior managers.

"As well as the three-minute silence, our flags were held at half mast."

Patrick Hamilton, spokesman for Motorola, said: "We observed the three-minute silence out of respect for people who were killed and injured in that awful disaster.

"Also the flags were to be at half mast for the day."

Many shoppers who had been rushing around in Swindon town centre stood still.

Andy Fant, building services manager for Westfield, owners of the Brunel Centre, said: "We observed the three minute silence.

"I would say that about 95 per cent of people in the centre stood absolutely silent for the three minutes."

British industry across the country, including City workers, joined the tribute to the victims of the disaster.

Factories, shops and offices fell still in a nation-wide gesture of sympathy.

A signal was sounded in Post Offices across the country and customers were asked to join staff in remembering the dead and injured.

Telecoms giant BT said that, where operationally possible, its 100,000 staff, including engineers, joined the massive outpouring of support.

Workers in small and large factories stopped production for the full three minutes, including car plants such as the Vauxhall site in Ellesmere Port.

The London Stock Exchange observed the three minutes silence after urging firms not to trade for three minutes after noon.

David Andrew