SILENCE fell on East Lancashire yesterday as people remembered the dead of two World Wars.

Services took place across Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley as standards were lowered and the Last Post sounded throughout the county.

Old soldiers mixed with civic dignitaries to remember the troops who lost their lives.

Blackburn Mayor Coun Peter Greenwood attended a special service at Blackburn Cathedral along with other council officials.

They then drove to Corporation Park where wreaths were laid and a silence observed.

Coun Greenwood later attended St Peter's Church, Darwen.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw was in London at Whitehall in his role as Home Secretary.

A short service of remembrance was held by the Darwen Branch of the Royal British Legion outside Darwen Town Hall on Saturday. In Accrington, worship took place at St James' Church. It was followed by a parade to Oak Hill Park for a wreath laying ceremony.

Hyndburn Mayor Coun Maurice Cowell was the first to lay a wreath and was followed by representatives of the Dunkirk Veterans Association, The East Lancashire Regiment, The Royal Marines, Sea Cadets, Fire Brigade, Falklands Association and Hyndburn MP Greg Pope.

The mayor and mayoress later attended a service of remembrance at Oswaldtwistle Cenotaph, accompanied by Hyndburn's head of Leisure Contract Services, Steve Tanti.

Other services took place in Altham, Church, Clayton-le-Moors, Huncoat and Rishton.

In the Ribble Valley, a parade took place through Clitheroe, arriving at the war memorial for a two minute silence. Ribble Valley Mayor, Coun Jenny Grimes and Clitheroe Mayor John McGowan, both attended the ceremony at Clitheroe Castle remembrance gardens.

And Coun Grimes took the salute following a parade from Billington Gardens to the cenotaph later in the day.

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