A SPECIAL beacon-lighting service will take place on November 11 at the first war memorial put up by local people.

The event at on the exact day marking centenary of the end of the First World War is in Rawtenstall Cemetery.

The graveyard's war memorial, erected in September 1915, was the first in the UK to built and paid for by the community.

Rossendale Council has worked with Rev Chris Casey from St Mary’s Church, Rawtenstall and local people to organise the event

Young people from local schools and uniformed groups will gather at the entrance to the cemetery on Burnley Road at 6.30pm.

They will take part in a lantern parade to the memorial where Water Band will play.

Relatives of the fallen named on the memorial are invited to take part.

A short service will be followed by the lighting of a beacon at 7pm and people will be given small wooden cross to plant in the ground behind the memorial.

The service is part of the national Battle’s Over commemorations which will see more than 1,000 beacons lit around the country.