Twickenham's Church Street was decked in the tricolour of France in a show of solidarity following the horrific terrorist attacks in Paris last week.

With 129 people confirmed dead, Twickenham Town Business Association chairman Bruce Lyons said the flag display was "the least" the town could do.

He said: "Church Street is not particularly French but we felt that it was a tribute that we could pay.

"We have had the flags for the rugby, of course, and the flag poles, which other people don't have, and we thought it was the least we could do.

"What happened in Paris is something that affects us all, we felt very sad about it and just felt it was a gesture we could make.

"Everybody in the street thought it was the right thing to do."

The flags were put up when an Italian resident asked Mr Lyons for a French flag to display the morning after the mass shootings and bombings.

Twickenham is used to hosting tens of thousands of French rugby fans each year and the Crusader Travel owner paid tribute to the nation.

He added: "The French way of life is very generous in its way of being and it hurts a lot.

"It is a very tragic thing to happen and we all feel very strongly about Isil.

"It may not have happened on our patch, or during the Rugby World Cup, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt."

The image of Church Street's tribute was shared by thousands of people on Facebook and Twickenham residents paid their own tributes on Twitter.

Claudine Zante wrote: "#Twickenham thinking of you #ParisAttacks #France".

Chris Ginnelly tweeted: "Proud to see twickenham respond so quickly showing support for France".

The Eel Pie pub said: "Today we show our solidarity with the people of Paris on @ChurchStTwicker in remembrance of yesterday's attacks."