| Standing on the pavement near Piccadilly Gardens bus station in the centre of Manchester, Rita Corser dropped her shopping bag and started to sob. Having been out all day she was alerted to the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II after spotting people taking photographs of one of the advertising boards replaced with photographs of Her Majesty, with the caption '1926-2022'. "Oh my God, I was like 'why are people taking pictures'," a visibly shaken Rita told Manchester Evening News reporter Thomas Molloy. "I didn't realise, I've been out all day, I'm so sorry. May God rest her Soul. "She's been there all the time. We grew up in Nigeria and she was our head of state and our parents were like 'the Queen, the Queen, the Queen'. Then you move to England and it's the same and now you're saying she's not here anymore. It's just a shock."  Graeme Bandeira' tribute to the Queen
In Hull, Sue and Paul Goodwin were in the midst of a city break when they heard about the Queen's passing. As HullLive's Harry Ingham writes, the grief and disappointment were clear in their faces as they tried to come to terms with the loss of our monarch. Their reactions are likely typical of many across the North as the nation begins a period of mourning to mark the death of its former monarch, who passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at Balmoral at the age of 96. Gun salutes will ring out in the capital and bells will toll across the country, with churches, chapels and cathedrals encouraged by the Church of England to open for prayers or a special service for mourners. In Bolton, regulars at a pub named after the late Queen all raised a glass to the building's namesake after the news of her death. Drinkers gathered in The Queen Elizabeth in Fletcher Street were left shell-shocked when the news came through. Landlord Derek Gallagher said: "I was devastated, I am a royalist and think they bring a lot of money to the country and are good for us. I think King Charles will carry on the good work she did. He has big shoes to fill." King Charles III acceded to the throne immediately on the death of Elizabeth II, but in the hours after her death the thoughts of many will turn to their memories of a monarch who most will not have met but still was an ever-present figure in their lives.  The Queen's visits to the North (Graphic: Carly Holds)
Over the years Queen Elizabeth has been on hand for many of the proudest civic events held in Northern communities, as our compilation of images from the archives shows. Among her many visits were a service to commemorate Hull's 700th anniversary, the opening of the International White Water Course at the Tees Barrage and the 100th anniversary of Darlington being given a royal charter. In 1994, the Queen was the first person to walk across the Centenary Bridge which spans the Manchester Ship Canal. Berwick MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: "My whole life has been filled with Queen Elizabeth II, a woman of such extraordinary courage and optimism, always radiant and loving, a beacon to us all on what resilience and devotion to duty looks like every single day. Her death is heartbreaking. May she rest in peace." Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire, James Dick, added: "This is a period of public grief, when people who do not know each other come together to mourn a national figure who has been consistent throughout our lives and for whom we have collective affection despite not knowing her personally."  Northern newspapers pay tribute (Graphic: Carly Holds)
Great North Run could be cancelled  The Red Arrows flying over the Tyne Bridge is an iconic image of the Great North Run (Image: PA)
The Great North Run could be cancelled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The half marathon, dubbed the world's largest, is set to take place this Sunday, but the tragic passing of the UK's longest-reigning monarch may set athletics hopefuls and charity runners back. This news comes after organisers at the GNE decided to cancel the event's 5K sister run which was set to take place today as well as the UK Athletics 5k Road Championships. A statement posted to the GNE's official website, read: "We are deeply saddened by the news of the death of Her Majesty the Queen. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family. "In light of this sad news, we have taken the decision to cancel the Great North 5k and the UK Athletics 5k Road Championships, both scheduled to take place on Friday 9 September. We will continue to assess plans for the rest of the weekend and provide a further update tomorrow morning. "We have contacted Great North 5k entrants by email and will be back in touch next week to confirm further details on the Great North 5k cancellation. Thank you for your understanding."
Meanwhile, Blackpool illuminations were switched off last night as a mark of respect following the death of Her Majesty the Queen. In a statement, Blackpool Council said: "We are deeply saddened to learn Her Majesty The Queen has passed away. "Her Majesty stood for many of the great things about this country, casting an image of strength, humility and kindness. As a mark of respect the Illuminations were not switched on last night."  The Illuminations were not switched on last night (Image: James Maloney/LancsLive)
Anti-fracking campaigners ready to 'pull out all the stops'  Cuadrilla's fracking site in Preston New Road
Campaigners in Lancashire are preparing to "pull out all the stops" in a second fight against fracking. It comes after Prime Minister Liz Truss announced that a ban on fracking would be lifted in England. It means production could begin within six months. Anti-fracking protesters previously spent 1,000 days outside the Cuadrilla fracking site in Little Plumpton, near Blackpool. They were joined along the way by celebrity supporters including Vivienne Westwood and Emma Thompson. Protesters thought their battle was won in November 2019 when a moratorium on fracking was announced following tremors at the site. But on Thursday, Ms Truss said she hopes to get gas flowing from onshore shale wells in as little as six months where there is "local support". Campaigner Julie Daniels, 62, said: "Liz Truss has no idea what she's talking about. She thinks we're going to be pumping gas within six months. What ignorance."
Businesses warn PM's energy plan not enough  Liz Truss' plan has been criticised
Business leaders have warned that Liz Truss's energy plan is "too little too late" to save struggling firms from closure. The new Prime Minister yesterday announced that annual energy bills for households will be frozen at £2,500 until 2024 as part of a huge support package which could cost up to £150 billion. However, the scheme is less generous for businesses than had been expected as their bills will be capped for six months – a shorter period than many had hoped for. Sara Ferguson, chair of Harrogate Business Improvement District', said: "As the owner of a town centre restaurant, one that uses a lot of gas and electricity, I don't think the support being offered goes far enough, or long enough. "It pains me to say this, but even with the energy price cap some business will simply not be able to pay higher bills. "It is going to be another tough time for the high street." 
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Northern Stories  Demystifying-Redevelopment-Consultation, one of the exhibits in Liverpool (Image: Julika Gittner)
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A thought-provoking exhibition that uses art to raise political questions and encourage debate is coming to Liverpool. 'Do They Owe Us a Living' is an exhibition exploring political resistance using art as activism to raise questions about politics and capitalism. The exhibition at the Royal Standard in Mann Street Liverpool 8 's Baltic District is curated by British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, Simon Willems. 12 artists from across the UK showcase their work and collaborations, including Liverpool artist Sumuyya Khader. -
A family who spent 17 years visiting the wrong grave after a burial mix-up have received an apology from the Church of England's representative in the House of Commons. MPs heard the Bell family, from County Durham, suffered a "heart-breaking" eight-week delay in burying their mother Hilda alongside her husband Thomas after it emerged someone else was in the grave they believed was his. Mr Bell's coffin was eventually located and his wife was able to be buried alongside him at Holy Trinity Church, Wingate. An inquiry into the matter is due to begin next month. -
A Sheffield MP is seeking justice for a family whose home was ruined by sewage water flooding into their home and garden. Clive Betts, MP for Sheffield South East, fought the corner of a mother and her young family in the Commons this week. The family lived a 'horror story' when sewage flooded into their home and garden, destroying their belongings following recent heavy rainfall. -
Flowers have been left at the desk of "rising star" Merseyside council worker Ashley Dale as devastated colleagues pay tribute following her "senseless" murder. Leader of Knowsley Council, Graham Morgan said the gesture was made by members of her team at the council "hit especially hard" by the loss of the "passionate" environmental health officer who died after being shot in her Old Swan home in the early hours of August 21. Ashley, 28, had been recently promoted to environmental health officer and was working towards chartered status before her death. -
Experts from the worlds of business, academia, politics and charity will debate the future of work at an event in Newcastle next week. The RSA think-tank has joined forces with North East England Chamber of Commerce and the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative for the conference at 11am on September 16. Speakers include John McCabe, CEO of North East England Chamber of Commerce and Rachel Redshaw, People and Culture Director at Nexus. For more details click here. -
Plans to convert a hotel into two large holiday homes have been approved as the trend towards unmanaged accommodation continues in Blackpool. The change in demand from B&Bs with a traditional live-in landlord or landlady towards key code entry systems has sparked concerns about the spread of so-called 'party houses'. But Blackpool Council approved a scheme to convert the White House Hotel on Hull Road after hearing the council had asked for a stringent management plan to prevent anti-social behaviour.
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