Hundreds expected at poppy parades

The annual event commemorates the millions of servicemen and women who lost their lives during the first and second World Wars and other times of conflict.

In Blackpool dozens of veterans will join the Mayor of Blackpool, Cllr Lily Henderson, for the Cenotaph service which begins at 11am.

Among those laying wreaths at the Princess Parade monument will be members of the Fylde Ex-Servicemen's Association including the Burma Star Association, Reme Association and the National Service Veterans.

From there a procession will make its way towards the Town Hall accompanied by music from The Salvation Army Band.

Mayor of Wyre, Cllr Stan Leadbetter, will be honouring attending two Royal British Legion Remembrance Parades.

The first of which sets off from the Legion Club, Fleetwood, at 10.30am, and the second from the Legion HQ on Lancaster Road, Preesall, at 2.30pm.

Services and processions will also be held at the Garstang Community Centre from 10am, the Old Town Hall pub in Poulton (from 10.45am) and Four Lane Ends Cenotaph at Thornton (from 10.30am).

And in Fylde the event will be honoured with three civic parades starting at St Annes Town Hall (from 10.20am), the Lytham Assembly Rooms (from 10.20am) and Kirkham.

Mayor of Fylde, Cllr John Longstaff, said: ''The ceremonies are always well attended, showing how it is necessary to remember our dead, not only from the two World Wars, but from any conflict that has ever taken place."

Remembrance Day will be followed by a two minute silence throughout the Fylde at 11am on Tuesday, November 11.

Wyre council officials are urging those who live within a three-mile radius of the Marine Gardens, Fleetwood, "not to be alarmed" by the sound of a rocket which is set to be used to signal the start of the silence.

A Wyre spokesman said: "The public are urged not to be alarmed by the explosion but to spare a thought for the men and women who did not return from their wartime service."