THE end of an era will be heralded tomorrow when the standard of the Normandy Landing Association is given a final resting place.

In June the group announced that, after 27 years, that months' D-Day celebrations would be the last the Blackburn with District branch would attend.

Members of the group, which dwindled from around 70 to less than 20, admitted the decision to close was a difficult one but also inevitable. All of the members are now in their 70s.

St Stephen's Church, Little Harwood, played host to the last D-Day remembrance service for the group and tomorrow the garrison church of St Alban, at Fulwood Barracks, Preston, will be the poignant setting as the group's standard, which bears the names of every member who died since joining the association engraved on a silver disc, is handed over.

The group's welfare officer, Joyce Croft, of Buncer Lane, Blackburn, said the standard would take pride of place in the barracks museum.

"There will be a church service and then we will hand over the standard for it to be hung up in the museum."

The date of the service, which will be attended by the Blackburn Mayor and Mayoress, Coun John Williams and Coun Sheila Williams, was chosen to be close to the anniversary of the second World War.

Joyce said: "Widows and relatives of former members of the group will be at the service."

Most of the members were involved in the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy in 1944. The Rev Tom Cumberlidge, who will conduct the service, paid tribute to their heroics.