D-DAY veterans will mark the 60th anniversary of the Allied invasion on Saturday with a service in Bold Venture Park, Darwen.

And special mention will be made of one of the campaign's youngest victims, local boy Jack Banks.

The Normandy Veterans' Association will honour Jack, who died aged 16, with a posthumous presentation of medals to his surviving family.

Private Banks lied about his age to join the army and was posted to Normandy where he was killed on July 21, 1944 after being hit by mortar shells.

He was the eldest of five children, born in Radford Street, Darwen, to Jack and Fanny Banks, and attended Holy Trinity Primary School and Spring Bank Secondary School. The Rev Canon Gervase W Markham, who was the chaplain of The Durham Light Infantry in Normandy, laid young Jack to rest in Jerusalem Cemetery and wrote the letter informing his parents of his death.

Rev Canon Markham, now 93, has agreed to officiate at Saturday's service.

The parade starts at 12.45pm and the service at around 1pm.

A free bus service will run to the park from the Town Hall Information Office at 11.30am.

It is expected to be the last nationally organised event for the veterans owing to their advancing years.