THOUSANDS of East Lancashire residents came together to remember Britian's war dead.

Towns and villages across the region held church services and wreath laying ceremonies to mark Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.

One of the biggest was in Blackburn Cathedral where members of the armed forces, the mayor, emergency services, schoolchildren and local voluntary organisations came together for a civic service.

Canon Andrew Hindley led the prayers and hymns before the Salvation Army band led a procession to Corporation Park, where wreath laying ceremonies took place.

During the service, Canon Hindley said it was important that people remembered the "evil and vengeance which breeds war".

He said: "We have to remember what our grandfathers and great grandfathers did for us."

Blackburn with Darwen mayor Coun Yusuf Jan-Virmani, said: "I was very proud to be involved and it was nice to see so many there.

"We need to make sure we carry on promoting Remembrance Sunday to people, especially the young."

In Darwen, people gathered at a service on Saturday morning at the Town Hall.

Former Royal Engineer Lawrence Gilbertson, 57, attended the service before flying back to the Falkland Islands where he works for the Territorial Army as part of the Defence Force.

Mr Gilbertson said: "The service was very moving. My father, grandfather and great grandfather were all in the military so it meant a lot to me."

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson attended a service at St Peter's Church with Coun Jan-Virmani, before wreath laying at Bold Venture Park.

In Hyndburn a variety of processions, services and wreath layings took place in Accrington, Church, Clayton-le-Moors, Great Harwood, Oswaldtwistle, Huncoat, Rishton, Baxenden and Altham, .

In Accrington a procession departed from Crawshaw Street before a service in St James Church. Mayor of Hyndburn, Coun Janet Storey then led wreath laying ceremonies in Oakhill Park.

In the Ribble Valley a remembrance service was held in Whalley at the Parish Church followed by a parade to the war memorial.

Services and wreath layings were also held in Clitheroe and villages throughout the area.