Victims of the Dunblane massacre have been remembered on the 20th anniversary of the school shooting that killed 16 children and their teacher.
The children – aged between five and six – and teacher Gwen Mayor were murdered by gunman Thomas Hamilton when he opened fire on a gym class at Dunblane primary school on 13 March 1996.
The massacre in the Stirlingshire town shocked the nation and led to the UK enforcing some of the strictest firearms legislation in the world.
No official events were held to mark the anniversary but tributes were paid during traditional Sunday church services in the town.
A minute’s silence was held in memory of those who died before the Six Nations match between Scotland and France at Murrayfield, while there was a minute of applause from fans and players before the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden where Hibernian played Ross County.
Rev Colin Renwick, minister at Dunblane Cathedral, which contains a stone memorial to the victims and is where a special remembrance service for hundreds of people was held just months after the tragedy, led tributes in his Sunday sermon.
“The tragic events of 13 March 1996 will long be remembered in Dunblane, and there has not been a day since when there has been no remembrance of those lost, injured, bereaved or traumatised,” he said.
“Since that day, people have appreciated the support and prayers of others throughout the world, but have also valued being allowed the space to grieve and rebuild with privacy and dignity, with as little media scrutiny as possible.”
Monsignor Basil O’Sullivan also marked the anniversary in the Holy Family church in Dunblane. He was parish priest at the time of the tragedy. He said: “We pray for the injured, we pray for the bereaved and those who still suffer every day.”
Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, tweeted: “Dunblane – in our thoughts and in our hearts, today and always.”
Judy Murray, whose sons Andy and Jamie were in the school on the day of the shooting, changed her Twitter profile picture to snowdrop flowers, the symbol of the campaign that rose out of the massacre.
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Some of the survivors and relatives have been reflecting over the last week on the impact of the shooting on their lives and on the country as a whole.
Mick North, whose five-year-old daughter Sophie was killed, said the positive legacy should not be forgotten – that people are safer from gun crime than they were 20 years ago.
He said: “In many respects, the day of the forthcoming anniversary won’t be especially different – any day from the last 20 years was one for memories.
“The importance of the 20th anniversary is as an occasion when others can recall and reflect on a horrific event, and also a time when those too young to remember might learn about what happened and consider its significance.”
Alison Ross, sister of five-year-old victim Joanna Ross, wants people to see the positive life in Dunblane today.
She told BBC Scotland: “We still had to power on and push on with our lives, and it’s important that everyone knows we’re doing it, and doing it well.”