IT IS not often that a single event can unite an entire town.

But that is what happened in Evesham yesterday as hundreds of people gathered to pay a silent tribute to tragic little Gabby Grady.

The five-year-old died a week ago yesterday after a car driven by her father Chris and also carrying her six-year-old brother Ryan plunged into the river Avon.

Ryan and his father survived. Grady is facing charges of murder and attempted murder.

Yesterday’s minute’s silence and balloon release in the centre of Evesham showed the impact Gabby’s death has had upon a tight-knit community.

The town’s market square has become an unofficial shrine to the little girl with a growing number of floral tributes.

Some of our politicians talk of broken Britain and a lack of community cohesion.

In the midst of terrible tragedy the people of Evesham have shown that those words do not ring true everywhere.

Yesterday was a true example of the community spirit that still binds together the people of many of our towns and villages.

We hope Gabby’s mother and wider family take some comfort from the outpouring of love for a little girl who many who attended yesterday’s event had never met.

None of us can know the torment suffered by Gabby’s family.

But we can imagine how we would feel if we lost a child in such traumatic circumstances.

And that is why so many people felt compelled to pay their respects to Gabby’s memory yesterday.

Were you there? How did you feel during the touching event? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.

• Do you have photographs from the day? Email them to yournews@worcesternews.co.uk

• View some of our pictures from the event here.