BLACKWOOD was a community “reeling under the blow” yesterday as a minute’s silence was held for Tunisia attack victim Trudy Jones.

Hundreds of people including dignitaries, police officers and schoolchildren gathered at the Dragon Circle in Blackwood’s town centre to remember the “bubbly” grandmother.

The care worker had taken a week-long holiday to Sousse in Tunisia with a close friend when she was tragically killed in the terror attack.

She was among the nine victims whose bodies were flown back to the UK on Thursday.

Reverend Sue Phillips, a Baptist minister in Blackwood, broke the minute’s silence with a prayer for the family and friends of Ms Jones.

She said: “The savagery which has taken Trudy has wounded us as well. We are reeling under the blow and unable to think clearly”.

She also prayed for God to “forgive and heal those whose flaws led to these crimes”.

Silences were held across Britain at noon to remember all of the 38 victims in the beach massacre, 30 of whom were British.

Last week staff and residents at the Highfields Nursing Home where Ms Jones worked said she was the “life and soul” of the home.

Home manager Shawkat Ilahi described her as a “bottle of pop, she had a joke for everyone. She was always singing and was always on the go”.

Yesterday members of the community formed a circle and bowed their heads in silent remembrance – one week on from the tragedy.

Christine Beard, who works at Illusions hair salon, was one of those who huddled round the family during the tribute.

Ms Beard said Ms Jones had come into the salon just days before her holiday and was “really bubbly, really excited to leave”.

She said: “She was a really bubbly person, always putting everyone before her. She just couldn’t wait to go on holiday”.

MP for Islwyn, Chris Evans, also attended and told the Argus the turn-out shows that “in good times and bad the community comes together”.

Mr Evans said: “It’s very comforting for the family to know that the whole of Blackwood is on their side.

“Going on holiday is something everyone does and for something like this to happen is beyond comprehension. My heart goes out to the family but it’s good for them to know the community is coming around them.”

Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Councillor Leon Gardiner, said: “On this sad occasion I would like to thank all those people to come and remember this lady.

“This is a valley community and you can see the amount of people and camaraderie here today.

“I support the family and any of their wishes, I’m always there."

Councillor Gardiner said he has paid a visit to the home where she worked and said the impact the lady had on the home was "unbelievable". He said: "People looked upon her more as a daughter than a worker.”