Blackburn Cathedral hosted a special service on Sunday afternoon to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.

The service was attended by civic dignitaries from across the county along with the Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire Amanda Parker, veterans, representatives from the Royal British Legion, and a range of organisations involved with the armed forces.

Prior to the service, a parade went through Blackburn town centre, starting in the Brown Street car park outside The Mall and heading along Railway Road, Dandy Walk, and Darwen Street before coming to a stop at the front of the cathedral.

The parade was led by the Darwen Brass Band and involved cadets and scouts from organisations across Lancashire.

Inside the cathedral, the service got under way at 4pm with everyone standing to sing the hymn The Gathering.

 

Further hymns were performed by the choir before Lord-Lieutenant Ms Parker and Vice Lord-Lieutenant Christine Kirk performed readings.

The Bishop of Blackburn and former Bishop of Burnley Rev. Philip North then led a sermon which concluded with the playing of the Last Post, a minute’s silence and the national anthem.

Prior to the service, a spokesperson for the Lancashire Lieutenancy Office said it would honour all members of the armed forces.

They added: “Those who fought valiantly, those who lost their lives, families and communities who grieved for the dead and welcomed back those who returned, with pride, joy, and hope for the future.

“And those involved discreetly, yet courageously, behind the scenes in intelligence and logistics, in this country and overseas.

“It will be a fitting acknowledgement of bravery, justice, and peace.”

The D-Day landings, on June 6, 1944, saw Allied forces launch an invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France.

It marked a pivotal turning point in World War Two by initiating the liberation of German-occupied Western Europe.