A sombre silence in memory of the Manchester bomb victims came to a rousing end with a spontaneous rendition of Don’t Look Back In Anger.

The Oasis hit rang out across Manchester’s St Ann’s Square after hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects.

The tribute was one of many nationwide events taking place at 11am to mark Monday night’s tragedy.

It started with Lydia Rullow singing the Manchester band’s song, prompting others to join in the chorus.

People observe a minute's silence in St Ann's Square (Owen Humphreys/PA)
People observe a minute’s silence in St Ann’s Square (Owen Humphreys/PA)

A large number of people observe a minute's silence in St Ann's Square (Ben Birchall/PA)
A large number of people observe a minute’s silence in St Ann’s Square (Ben Birchall/PA)

Speaking to BBC 5 Live’s Emma Barnett, she said: “It just felt like the right moment. It wasn’t something that I’d planned or thought about, but I had been thinking about that song in particular in the past few days.”

She added: “I think I hoped people would join in because it is a bit of a Manchester anthem. Everyone sort of knows the words, and the sentiment behind it, don’t look back in anger, is so important after something like this happens.

“I started singing, and then there were a couple of voices behind me that started, and then a couple more voices, and then everyone started joining in and it was really beautiful.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham lays flowers after a minute's silence in St Ann's Square (Ben Birchall/PA)
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham lays flowers after a minute’s silence in St Ann’s Square (Ben Birchall/PA)

The silence in Manchester was followed by singing (PA)
The silence in Manchester was followed by singing (PA)

“And afterwards people were coming up to me and throwing their arms around me and saying thank you, which was really unexpected, but really beautiful,” said Ms Rullow.

She also said she thought people were not sure if they should join in, adding: “But of course you should, you know – drown out any of the fear and hate with beautiful voices. You know, that’s the best thing to do.”

Crowds gathered at well-known sites in the UK, including London’s Parliament and Trafalgar Squares, and across many police headquarters.

People observe a minute's silence in Parliament Square, London (Jonathan Brady/PA)
People observe a minute’s silence in Parliament Square, London (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Political leaders joined together in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh (Jane Barlow/PA)
Political leaders joined together in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh (Jane Barlow/PA)

Hundreds of people gathered outside Greater Manchester Police headquarters for the minute of silence, with crowds pouring out of nearby buildings to join the officers.

Police officers stationed at suicide bomber Salman Abedi’s last known address paused their duties to observe the minute’s silence.

Uniformed officers guarding the cordon still in place in Elsmore Road, Fallowfield, removed their caps and helmets at 11am and stood facing away from the property. Their colleagues in forensic examination suits came out of the semi-detached property to join them in the sweltering sunshine.

Armed police paused in tribute (Owen Humphreys/PA)
Armed police paused in tribute (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Other police forces across the country joined in the act of remembrance – flying flags at half-mast, and gathering outside headquarters in a show of solidarity.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins asked those gathered to spend a minute “reflecting” on the events of Monday night.

Outside the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, where medics fought through the night to save victims, staff stood together for a moment’s silence before breaking into spontaneous applause.

Inside, doctors and nurses paused their duties and stood on balconies overlooking the main reception.

People observe a minute's silence outside the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital (Peter Byrne/PA)
People observe a minute’s silence outside the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (Peter Byrne/PA)

The Queen arrived at the scene minutes later to visit those injured in the attack.

Other acts of remembrance across the UK included court proceedings being paused with judges, jurors, lawyers and defendants standing in silence as a mark of respect.

Mayor Olive Punchion laying flowers outside South Shields town hall (Tom White/PA)
Mayor Olive Punchion laying flowers outside South Shields town hall (Tom White/PA)

Flowers laid outside South Shields town hall (Tom White/PA)
Flowers laid outside South Shields town hall (Tom White/PA)

Council workers gathered on the steps of South Shields Town Hall for the minute’s silence.

Dozens of them joined local people out shopping for the tribute to the dead, including teenagers Liam Curry and his girlfriend Chloe Rutherford.

At the end of the silence, Mayor Olive Punchion carried a large floral tribute and placed it alongside others left by locals in front of the town hall.

One note read: “We never met. Our loss.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (third right back) joins fire fighters at Islington Fire Station, north London (Yui Mok/PA)
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (third right back) joins fire fighters at Islington Fire Station, north London (Yui Mok/PA)

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon joins colleagues in observing a minute's silence in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh (Jane Barlow/PA)
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon joins colleagues in observing a minute’s silence in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh (Jane Barlow/PA)