BRITAIN has paid tribute to the victims of the Tunisia terror attack with a minute's silence.

The nation paused at noon to reflect on last Friday's atrocity and remember the 30 British people who were killed in the beach front massacre.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh observed the silence as they visited the University of Strathclyde's Technology and Innovation Centre, while Prime Minister David Cameron marked the moment in his Oxfordshire constituency.

As pedestrians and tourists alike bowed their head in London's Parliament Square during the silence, flags above Whitehall fluttered at half mast, a poignant symbol mirrored at public buildings throughout the country, including at Buckingham Palace.

Tunisian prime minister Habib Essid also joined the UK's ambassador to the country Hamish Cowell at a memorial event on the beach in Sousse - where Mr Cowell met members of the hotel's staff to thank them for their role helping British nationals.

Armed police patrolled the beach while dozens of tourists also gathered around a sea of flowers at the scene of the attacks.

At St Nicholas Church in Biddestone, the village near Chippenham where victim Eileen Swannack lived, there is a book of condolences and there was a service of remembrance for all of the victims of the terrorist attack today, starting at 11.50am.

The Rev Jonathan Philpott, Priest-in-Charge at St Nicholas Church, said: "The community of Biddestone were shocked and saddened to hear the news that one of the villagers Eileen Swannack and her partner John Welch, also known in Biddestone, are victims of the recent terrorist attack in Sousse in Tunisia. 

"As a village church, one of the privileges is being able to stand alongside people at key moments in life whether they are moments of joy or of sadness, and so it is important that we mark the minute’s silence on Friday, July 3, together in the church."  

In Corsham, home of John Welch, there was a minute's silence and the Town Hall flag is at half mast.

Corsham Cricket Club, where Mr Welch was a member, has also been flying its flag at half-mast.

Both were being repatriated at Brize Norton today.

A prayer was said by Marlborough College chaplain, the Rev David Campbell, before Marlborough's Town Council meeting on Monday and the flag is at half-mast today.

People in Malmesbury were able to pay their respects at Malmesbury Abbey where the Rev Peter Yacomeni said prayers for those affected by the attack between 11.50am and 12.10pm to coincide with the national mourning. 

Calne Town Council held a minute's silence with councillors and staff gathering outside the council’s offices and the Mayor of Chippenham, David Powell, spoke on the steps of Chippenham Town Hall before the minute's silence was observed.

In Swindon the minute's silence was observed at Wharf Green and Thamesdown Transport confirmed that the silence was observed on its services.

Wimbledon joined the rest of the nation to pay tribute to the victims of the Tunisia terror attack with an emotional minute's silence.

Spectators congregated on Murray Mound inside the All England Club at midday bowed their heads and then clapped once the minute was over.

Matches started at 12.15pm rather than the usual 11.30am to allow players, staff and fans to take part.

The bodies of 17 of the 30 British victims killed in the beach massacre have been returned to the UK and more are expected to be repatriated today and tomorrow.

The British victims were among the 38 holidaymakers who were killed by Seifeddine Rezgui when he opened fire in the resort of Sousse. Three Irish nationals, two Germans, one Belgian, one Portuguese and one Russian were among the dead.

Recent days have seen military personnel complete the solemn task of receiving some of the victims on British soil in a ceremony at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

Members of the RAF Regiment's Queen's Colour Squadron unloaded the coffins from the RAF C-17 transport plane used to bring them back from Tunisia into the waiting hearses.

They were watched by relatives of the dead who were present at the air base.

Holiday operators Thomson and First Choice have confirmed that all 30 British victims were their customers.

It is believed Rezgui - who was shot dead by police - had accomplices who helped him to carry out the atrocity and the Tunisian government said it had made a number of arrests.

Eight people - seven men and one woman - were in custody, suspected of having direct links to the massacre, but four others had been released, government minister Kamel Jendoubi said.

He said the investigation "has allowed us to discover the network behind the operation in Sousse".

According to Tunisian officials, the gunman trained at a Libyan jihadist camp at the same time as the two gunmen who attacked the Bardo museum in Tunis in March, killing 22 people.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon vowed that those responsible for the massacre would be "tracked down".

The Metropolitan Police said 76 family liaison officers across the country were supporting the families of those killed and the survivors while hundreds of counter terrorism officers were helping the international response to the attack.

Specialist advisers have also been deployed to Tunisia by the National Policing Counter Terrorism Headquarters to assist the Foreign Office and Tunisian authorities in reviewing security at other tourist resorts and attractions.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, the national policing lead for counter terrorism, said: "With the threat level to the UK from international terrorism remaining at severe, the UK police service is continually reviewing security to help ensure people and places are as safe as possible."

He appealed for anyone who was in Sousse and witnessed the attack to contact the confidential anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321.

He also said that dedicated email addresses for people to send any images and information "that may assist" in the investigation has also been set up.

People can go online - to either www.ukpoliceimageappeal.com or www.ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk and relevant information to tunisiaenquiry@met.police.uk - to send their images.

Victim killed by gunshot wounds, coroner hears

One of the British victims of the Tunisia terror attack was killed by gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen, a coroner has heard.

An inquest was opened today into the death of engineer Stephen Mellor from Bodmin, Cornwall.

He was killed as he shielded his wife Cheryl during the beach massacre a week ago.

Detective Sergeant David Batt of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command told West London Coroner's Court: "Cause of death was recorded as gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen."

The body of Mr Mellor had been identified by dental records, the hearing was told.

Chinyere Inyama, senior coroner for West London, confirmed Mr Mellor's body will be released to his family as he adjourned the first inquest into the deaths of the British victims to a date to be fixed.

Thirty Britons were among 38 victims killed by Seifeddine Rezgui when he opened fire in the resort of Sousse.

Mr Batt told the hearing that 275 witness accounts had been taken by police, while more than 1,200 potential witnesses had returned to the UK.

"Accounts are being taken from those who are deemed significant," he said.

Mr Batt said the attack happened at around 11.15 am last Friday and was believed to have lasted 30 minutes.

"Tourists were indiscriminately targeted by the gunman," he said. "The gunman was shot by security services."

The body of Mr Mellor, 59, was moved to the central mortuary in Tunis after he was killed, Mr Batt said.

"Senior UK police identification managers have assisted in Tunisia and in the UK to oversee the identification process," he added.

Mr Mellor's body was formally by identified by the Tunisian authorities, he added.

There was a heavy police presence near the court today, while a number of officers were guarding a large tent close to the building.

Further inquests into deaths of the British victims are expected to open over the next few days.