Thousands of people joined together in a minute's silence tonight to remember the 270 victims of the Lockerbie bombing which happened 20 years ago today.

Thousands of people joined together in a minute's silence tonight to remember the 270 victims of the Lockerbie bombing which happened 20 years ago today.

Tributes were paid at services across the UK and in the US on the anniversary of the atrocity, when Pan Am Flight 103 from Heathrow to New York exploded in the skies above the Scottish town in 1988.

All 259 people on board were killed and a further 11 died in Lockerbie where the wreckage fell to the ground.

Their names were read out at vigils arranged to coincide with the moment of the disaster, minutes after 7pm.

In Lockerbie, hundreds of residents gathered at ceremonies at Dryfesdale and Tundergarth churches.

The Rev Sandy Stoddart told the congregation at Dryfesdale: "I have printed 270 names on the back of the order of service. This is a list of those who died.

"But it is not a list of the victims, because we can never list all those names.

"Nobody but God knows all the names on the list."

At Heathrow, former employees of the Pan Am airline joined relatives of some of the 33 British victims at a memorial at Heathrow Airport chapel, led by the Rev John Mosey, whose daughter Helga died in the disaster.

New York State's Syracuse University, which lost 35 students in the bombing, held a service and some 500 people were due to attend a remembrance services at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington DC.

Of the passengers and crew killed in the Lockerbie disaster, 188 were Americans.

In Lockerbie, the Rev Sandy Stoddart said of the 20th anniversary: "If you have lost a loved one or loved ones, if everything that you thought was life was wiped in a moment, is it any more poignant or painful to be approaching the 20th Christmas than the 19th?

"I cannot speak for the families of those who died, and I am not sure I have any right to speak for the people of Lockerbie.

"But I've got a strong sense that Lockerbie feels that this commemoration is enough, if not more than enough.

"Many would like to have the time back, wanting to be Lockerbie without the brackets. Just plain Lockerbie, not Lockerbie the town where..."

The Reverend said one relative had described the tragedy of December 21 1988 as Lockerbie "receiving those who died in a loving embrace".

He also spoke of the strong bonds that had been formed in the aftermath of the atrocity, including new friendships and a close link with Syracuse University.

A scholarship programme sees two students from Lockerbie Academy study at the university each year.

Former Libyan intelligence officer Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi was jailed for life after being convicted of mass murder following a trial at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands in 2001.

Al Megrahi, who was recently diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer, has consistently denied responsibility for the bombing and a second appeal against his conviction will be heard by the courts next year.

Around 150 people attended a wreath-laying ceremony earlier today at the town's Dryfesdale Cemetery.

Many wiped tears from their eyes as they listened to an address by Canon Michael Bands, who said: "It is awful that we should gather today on this stormy sort of day to feel the sadness again of the tragedy that took place here 20 years ago.

"And so perhaps, after 20 years of the deepest mourning and the experience of the greatest pain, we perhaps need to reflect a little on how the gears have been changing in our own minds and hearts.

"Nothing will ever change the pain, nothing will change those gut-wrenching experiences which followed this tragedy.

"But how we deal with them, and how we go on in to the future history of this country depends so much what we make of it all in our faith.

"This air disaster has long ceased to be a Lockerbie event and become a world event and it takes its place in the whole pattern of human experience of good and evil.

"But we still have the ability within us to make the changes."

One floral tribute laid in the cemetery's garden of remembrance read: "Twenty years have passed since you all left us to become flying angels.

"Your souls and spirits will always be with each and every one of us."

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said his thoughts were with the people of Lockerbie and all of those affected by the disaster on both sides of the Atlantic.

He said: "The anniversary presents an opportunity to reflect on what has happened since - on the strength that the community has shown in coping with such adversity, on the lasting links that have been established with those in other nations who were touched by the disaster, and the subsequent development of the town and its prospects for the future.

"I offer my support to all involved in marking the anniversary and, in particular, my condolences to those who will be mourning the loss of a loved one."

Scotland secretary Jim Murphy said: "Our eternal sympathy goes out to all those who lost family members and friends and who to this day feel the dreadful effects of that terrible event.

"Lockerbie and Scotland pulled together in the aftermath, grieving, healing and commemorating together as a strong community - all our thoughts are with them again today."