The Sidmouth community joined together on Thursday (June 6) to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings.

Proceedings began at 10.45am with a short procession of veterans and standards from the market place to the War Memorial for a brief Act of Remembrance and Dedication of Standards.

At 6.30pm Sidmouth Parish Church bells rang, together with church bells across the country, to signify the 80 years since the momentous events of D-Day itself.

Proceedings then moved to York Steps on the Esplanade where the main Sidmouth commemoration took place, with music provided by Sidmouth Town Band.

At 8.40pm the Town’s Royal Standard, together with other Standards and veterans groups, progressed onto Market Place to York Steps to light a beacon. ‘Poppy Petals’, representing those that served, were scattered at sea by Sidmouth Lifeboat.

The national D-Day 80th Anniversary Tribute was read, followed by the lighting of the ‘Lamp for Peace’ by the Chair of Sidmouth Town Council at 9.15pm. Such beacons were lit across the country to signify 'the light that emerged from the dreadful darkness of war'.