AS PEOPLE in Bath remember the Queen Mother, preparations are already under way for six days of mourning culminating with the funeral next Tuesday 9 April.

Following the announcement of the Queen Mother's death on Saturday evening, Bath has begun to mark the passing of Britain's favourite grandmother in its own personal manner.

Books of condolences have been opened at churches throughout the city and at the Guildhall where mourners have flocked to write down their thoughts, memories and sympathies.

Books have also been opened at the Assembly Rooms, the Museum of Costume and the Hollies at Midsomer Norton.

All public buildings in Bath and the surrounding area will fly the flag at half mast until after the funeral, which takes place in Westminster Abbey at 11.30am Tuesday morning.

The city fell silent as the news of the death broke on Saturday. The Theatre Royal Bath held a minute's silence before the performance of Naked Justice, starring Leslie Phillips, barely hours after the news was announced.

The following morning, Bath Abbey was packed for the Easter Sunday service as people from the city gathered to share their mourning.

The Rev Simon Oberst, who led the service, said the Queen Mother was a "shining example of service to this nation".

Parliament has been recalled today to decide whether to declare Tuesday a national day of mourning.

A spokesperson for Bath & North East Somerset Council said: "The council will be guided by any decision taken nationally as to whether Tuesday April 9 is to be declared a national day of mourning.

"As the council is engaged in the delivery of essential public services and such an announcement has yet to be made, then the council will be operating normally on the day of the Queen Mother's funeral.

"We will of course respect the wishes of staff who wish to pay their respects."

The council added that schools in the city are being invited to mark Tuesday's funeral however they wish.

This follows the issuing of a notice by the Government on guidance for the public observance of the national mourning period.

The notice, which was issued following discussions with the Royal Family, said that places of public entertainment such as cinemas may wish to mark the day by playing the National Anthem or observing a minute's silence.

Since news of her death broke, mourners have begun to lay their floral tributes at the obelisk in the centre of Orange Grove, by Bath Abbey.

The tributes, last seen on such a massive scale following the death of Princess Diana in 1997, clearly display the affection residents hold for the Queen Mother.

It was an affection that was more than reciprocal. The Queen Mother enjoyed a close relationship with Bath, visiting the city several times in her 101 years.

She first visited Bath in 1933 when she was the Duchess of York and since then a decade has rarely passed when she did not come to the city on an official visit.

This included a trip in 1942 when the Queen Mother visited bombed areas of the city to give out blankets and clothing.

Highlighting those who remember such gestures of kindness from the Queen Mother, Prince Charles said on Monday that his grandmother possessed "an immensely strong character, combined with a unique natural grace, and an infectious optimism about life itself."