THE Provost left a heartfelt message honouring the late Queen as an official book of condolence opened in Her Majesty's memory.

Well wishers in Inverclyde can now follow civic leader Drew McKenzie and write down their own tribute.

The book has been placed in the council customer service centre in Clyde Square - which was opened by Her Majesty 10 years ago.

The book of condolence opened yesterday, as Inverclyde joined the rest of the nation in marking the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Church bells rang out at noon, led by Wellpark Mid Kirk, which chimed 96 times in honour of the Queen, who died peacefully at Balmoral on Thursday afternoon.

Church doors were opened across Inverclyde to allow members of the public space for reflection and prayers in honour of the UK's longest serving monarch.

Provost McKenzie said: "The book of condolence is a very special way for people to express their thoughts about Queen Elizabeth.

"It will be archived and become a historical document.

"It is a privilege to be Provost at this time and to pay tribute to her.

"She really was the mother of the nation.

"She has been a constant in all our lives."

The table with the book of condolence was thoughtfully placed in the same spot where the Queen had signed the visitors' book in the centre during her Golden Jubilee visit in 2012.

Across Inverclyde tributes were paid as the religious figures and members of the public remembered her.

Reverend Jonathan Fleming, of the Lyle Kirk, said: "We woke up to the first day of the end of the Elizabethan era.

"I feel there is a hush and a respectful feel about the building.

"The church is the kind of place where people can come together to gather, or to have some time to reflect.

"We wanted our doors to be open.

"Queen Elizabeth has been a constant for us all in recent years when so much has changed.

"I think even if you don't call yourself a royalist everyone had a great respect for the Queen.

"Everyone I have spoken to today feels a sense of loss, like someone in the family has gone.

"She has been a part of all our lives for so long.

At Port Glasgow New Parish Reverend William Boyle led the way, ringing the bells and offering a quiet time for prayers in the sanctuary of the church.

At Old Gourock & Ashton which has three of the Queen's Depute Lord Lieutenants in the congregation, the church doors were also open for people to come to reflect.

The three depute Lord Lieutenants who are part of the church are Victoria Crawford, Alan Dunnet and Hugh Currie.

Reverend David Burt said: "For so many of us now there has only ever been one monarch.

"In our church many of our congregation are of the same generation as the Queen."

Inverclyde's book of condolence can be signed at the customer service centre in the Municipal Buildings in Clyde Square during opening hours. Messages can also be left online by visiting the Royal Family official website www.royal.uk/send-message-condolence