COURTHOUSES, stately homes and shops across North Yorkshire will close on Tuesday as a mark of respect to the Queen Mother.

As the nation prepares for her funeral at Westminster Abbey, visitors to North Yorkshire were warned by the Yorkshire Tourist Board to check that attractions are open before they set off to pay a visit on Tuesday morning.

The National Trust has decided to close all its properties - including Beningbrough Hall, the Treasurer's House and Nunnington Hall - in memory of the Queen Mother, who had been the charity's president since 1953.

However, the trust's gardens and landscape parks will be open free-of-charge for quiet contemplation.

The same arrangements are planned for Castle Howard, while English Heritage properties, including Clifford's Tower in York, will be closed until after the funeral at 2pm.

All hearings have been cancelled at York Crown Court, as well as at magistrates courts such as York and Selby.

Some shops are also planning to shut down as a mark of respect, while others are considering a two-minute silence at 11.30am.

Scores of Greenwoods gents outfitters stores across the North - including ones in York, Selby, Harrogate, Scarborough, Ripon and Northallerton - will be closed all day.

Mulberry Hall, the fine china and crystalware shop in Stonegate, will close between 11.15 am and 1pm as a mark of respect but also to allow members of staff to watch the funeral service on TV.

Asda at Monks Cross, Tesco at Clifton Moor and Askham Bar and Sainsbury's at Monks Cross and Foss Bank will shut between 10.30am and 1pm.

A spokeswoman for Fenwicks department store in the Coppergate Centre said there would probably be a two-minute silence at 11.30am.

A GNER spokesman said it was highly likely, but not yet confirmed, that there would be a two-minute silence at York station, and that any trains due to depart at 11.30 am would be delayed by two minutes.

Marks & Spencer today announced it was closing its 315 stores nationwide between 10.30am and 1pm.

Lady Grimthorpe, of Westow near Malton, a former lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother, will be among the congregation at the funeral.

Lord Crathorne, Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, will also be there as the president of the Georgian Group, of which the Queen Mother was patron.

Updated: 11:37 Friday, April 05, 2002