AN MP is asking the families of fallen First World War serviceman to take their "dead man's penny" to church on Remembrance Sunday.

The bronze-cast memorial plaques were issued to the next-of-kin of all British and Empire men and women killed in the conflict.

Morecambe and Lunedale MP David Morris made the plea during a parliamentary debate and described the atmosphere as "very emotional and eerie".

"I do not subscribe to the paranormal," said Mr Morris, "but it really felt as though the man was standing at my side. I had never felt that before, and I doubt I will ever feel it again, but other members who were in the chamber at the time experienced the feeling something else was there too.

"If we take these plaques to church with us on Remembrance Sunday, those soldiers will be there, too, and they will be remembered. That is all that really matters. Let us remember them, let us honour them 100 years on, and let us celebrate what they did for our freedom."

At almost five inches across, the "dead man's penny" was so called for its likeness to the much smaller penny coin. More than 1.3 million were issued - around 600 of them in memory of women - using 450 tonnes of bronze.

The plaques bear an image of Britannia holding a trident and an olive wreath, standing with a lion, and carry the words "He/She died for freedom and honour".