IN PICTURES: East Lancashire falls silent to remember nation's heroes

Crowds gathered at official ceremonies around memorials, town halls and at schools to pay tribute to those who did not come home as a result of sacrificing their lives in war.

MORE TOP STORIES:

It began at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month — the same time in 1918 when the guns finally fell silent along the Western Front in Europe.

Shoppers and civic leaders observed the silence outside Blackburn and Darwen town halls and a remembrance service was staged at Burnley Cenotaph.

Inspired by the Ceramic poppies at the Tower of London last year, and a visit to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park by year 10 students, the art department at St Bede’s RC High School in Blackburn made more than 1,000 poppies to commemorate each soldier from the town who died in the Great War.

The design technology department made white crosses, each of which carries the name of a soldier from Blackburn who was killed in the war.

A remembrance service was organised at St Paul’s CE Primary School in Hoddlesden and red balloons were released at 1pm at Lammack Primary School in Blackburn.

A service was also held in the Peace Garden in Towneley Park, Burnley, from just before 11am.

A parade was led in Barley from the village hall from 10.30am to the memorial stone for a service and wreath laying.

Special assemblies were also staged at schools across East Lancashire to solemnly mark commemoration events of Remembrance Day.

Pupils from Pendle Primary Academy, Castercliff Academy and Barrowford Primary School joined the commemorations in Nelson.

Andrew Stephenson, MP for Pendle, said the local events were essential for people to remember those brave men and women who had sacrificed their lives as a result of conflict.

He said: “I attended the service in Barley and it was very well attended.

“These events are growing year on year and it is very important that they are still held.

“The number of young people taking part is also growing.”