What will happen next to the Queen’s flowers and tributes in St Ann’s Square and Manchester Central Library?

Mancunians have been gathering at St Ann’s Square to lay flowers to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on 8 September after 70 years on the throne.

Many have also offered their condolences to the Royal family in the Book of Condolence at Central Library.

With so many flowers and messages being placed in these locations over the past few days, Manchester City Council has decided that these tributes will be preserved and archived for future generations to look back on this historic event.

Leader of the Council, Coun Bev Craig, said: "It’s clear from the messages left in remembrance of her both in our Books of Condolence and with the many floral tributes, that Her Majesty holds a special place in the hearts and minds of many Mancunians and that she will continue to do so.

"We plan to hold onto those thoughts and feelings on behalf of the city in a special archive so that generations from now our children, our grandchildren, and their children, will be able to look back and see for themselves exactly what our longest-serving monarch meant to Manchester, the country, and the world."

While the flowers will be taken away to be composted, the accompanying message cards will be carefully removed and recorded.

The messages left in the Books of Condolence will also be collated and archived.

Mancunians will have until Tuesday 20 September 8pm, the day after the Queen’s funeral, to sign the Book of Condolence at Central Library.

Coun Craig added: "The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is something that has been felt by the whole nation, and not least here in Manchester where we recognise and thank her for her support to the city during times good and bad.

"For most of us she is the only national figurehead we have known.  Her seven decades of service to all of us is unlikely to be matched by another monarch - certainly in our lifetimes and possibly ever.”

The state funeral takes place today, Monday 19 September, at Westminster Abbey.

The day has been declared a bank holiday to allow the nation to watch the funeral and mourn the Queen.