HUNDREDS of people have signed a book of condolence to share their grief over the lives lost in the Clutha Bar.

Senior politicians, councillors, members of the emergency services, the public and children all took time out to pay their respects to the victims.

Throughout yesterday a quiet queue of people patiently waited in line for their turn to sign the book in the City Chambers.

Scottish Secretary Michael Carmichael met council leader Gordon Matheson before adding his thoughts to the growing number of emotional tributes.

He said: "Adversity often brings out the best in people.

"The response of the people of the city has spoken volumes about the strength of the community and its courage and character."

Shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran, who represents Glasgow East, accompanied Mr Carmichael on the visit to the City Chambers.

She said: "This is Glasgow, where in the deepest tragedy we rally to support each other.

"It is hard times, and the city is hurting, but we have to move on, to ask why this has happened and what we do now."

Scottish Labour deputy leader Anas Sarwar, MP for Glasgow Central, also signed the book.

He said: "It has been a sad few days but although we have seen the most tragic of scenes, we have also seen the best of our citizens."

Kevin Lynch, 39, from Airdrie, a trainer with a charity which helps young people into jobs, also queued silently to record his thoughts.

He said: "We have some of the young people with us and they wanted to come down here and pay their respects."

Levi McDonald,17, from Rutherglen, also decided to make the trip into town to honour the dead and injured.

He said: "I just wanted to pay my respects for the loves ones of the victims."

A warship which is twinned with Glasgow lowered her ensign and Union Jack as a mark of respect to the victims of the Clutha helicopter tragedy.

HMS Defender had tied up at the city's King George V docks just hours before the tragedy unfolded.

The Clyde-built destroyer was in the city on its first official visit to Glasgow. It was launched at the Govan yard four years ago.

Commanding Officer Philip Nash and a crew of 200 had attended a civic reception on Friday night which had been hosted by Lord Provost Sadie Docherty.

It finished at 9pm and its thought a number of Royal Navy personnel afterwards went to pubs and clubs in the city centre.

Defender sailed out of Glasgow on Sunday as the city and the rest of the country came to terms with the horrific aftermath of helicopter crash.

A Royal Navy spokeswoman told how the tragedy had touched the warship's crew and officers.

She said: "The ship marked the awful events of Friday night by flying both her ensign and Union Jack at half mast.

"The crew were saddened and sobered to have been in port when such a tragedy unfolded.

"They echoed the words of many others in expressing heartfelt wishes to all those involved in the terrible incident - the victims, the emergency services, the families and friends of those lost, injured or involved in any way."

Meanwhile, bunches of flowers and other tributes were laid by members of the public near the crash site on Stockwell Street.

vivienne.nicoll@eveningtimes.co.uk