IT WAS and still is the most famous rescue operation of World War Two.

On May 26, 1940, a flotilla of more than 800 naval and civilian boats headed out across the Channel to begin evacuating troops left stranded on the beaches at Dunkirk. Thousands were killed from heavy artillery fire and constant aerial bombardment by the Nazis.

Nine days later Operation Dynamo had helped save 338,226 soldiers from certain death or capture.

Sixty three years on, five survivors of Dunkirk from Ramsbottom and others from the region, paid their final respects to those who lost their lives in the Battle of Dunkirk.

On Sunday, the remaining members of the Ramsbottom branch of the Dunkirk Veterans Association were at the forward line of a special ceremony where their Standard was laid in St Andrew's Church with fully military honours.

The three arms of the services were represented and numerous Standards both form the region's British Legion and others were on parade along Bolton Road West to the church. The Corps of Drums of the Lancashire Fusiliers lead the DVA's Standard to its final resting place.

The Laying Up service was conducted by Reverend Ian Rogerson.