The Lord Mayor has written to the mayor of Paris expressing the condolences of the people of Chester after 129 people died and more than 350 were injured on Friday.

A Book of Condolence has been opened since Saturday in the Town Hall and anyone wishing to sign it can do so between 9am and 4.30pm Monday - Friday.

Flags are flying at half-mast at Cheshire West and Chester Council buildings at the Town Hall and HQ in Chester, Civic Way in Ellesmere Port and Wyvern House in Winsford.

A minute’s silence was observed at 11am today (Monday) by all council staff in memory of those who died.

The flag flying outside Chester Town Hall
The flag flying outside Chester Town Hall

In the letter to Madame le Marie, the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, Councillor Hugo Deynem writes: “May I on behalf of the city of Chester express our deepest sympathy and extend our sincere condolences to all those affected by the heinous attack that unfolded in the city of Paris on Friday evening.

“We as a city, and as a nation, should and will stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends and neighbours to both confront and ultimately defeat those who would wish to attack our liberty, freedom of expression and our democracies.

“May I take this opportunity to assure you that we stand in solidarity with the people of Paris in supporting all reasonable efforts that may be available and utilised to bring to justice as swiftly as possible those who planned, supported and perpetrated this atrocious act of aggression.

The Lord Mayor of Chester Hugo Deynem

“So many innocent people from so many nations across the globe have been deeply affected and this was an attack on nothing less than humanity itself.

‘Books of Condolence have been opened in Chester Town Hall and candles have been lit in memory of those who lost their lives on Friday evening.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to the French emergency services and military who came to the aid of the injured and who put their own lives at risk to help and save others.”‘Our thoughts are with those families in France, Britain and so many other countries across the world who have lost family members and friends or suffered injury in the events of Friday night.

’Please accept our deepest condolences.”