THE 80th anniversary of D-Day - the largest seaborne invasion in history - was marked across Craven with the ringing of church bells, services, the lighting of beacons and hand-crafted poppies.

Town criers called a start to last Thursday's anniversary of the Normandy landings in 1944 which led to the liberation of France and Europe with a special D-Day 80 Proclamation.

Barnoldswick and District Royal British Legion youth member, Marcus Lilley supported Sgt Richard Brock on Wednesday evening, last week, while he was delivering his Tribute to the Fallen on television at the British War Cemetery, Bayeux France.

Marcus was also accompanied on the trip by his father and branch Chairman Captain Adrian Lilley. On Thursday, Capt Lilley was in Earby for the lighting of the beacon. 

In Skipton, the bells of Holy Trinity Church rang out for peace at 6.30pm, followed by a remembrance service at the war memorial and the lighting of the beacon on the tower of Holy Trinity Church.

The service was accompanied by Skipton Brass Band, and the D-Day poem was read by Skipton Air Cadets and members of the 3rd Skipton Scout group.

Toby Garbutt, events supervisor for Skipton Town Council, said: "It is of the upmost importance that we continue honouring the legacy of D-Day, reflecting on the sacrifices made, and reaffirming our commitment to peace and unity.”

In Long Preston, hundreds of knitted and crocheted poppies created by the village craft group created bands of colour on trees and in a 'Lest we Forget' banner. More than 80 people attended a remembrance service on Thursday conducted by the Rev James Rodley with the commemorative poem read by Long Preston schoolchildren, and with the laying of wreaths and flowers by a force's veteran and children of serving service people. A service was also taken in the Methodist Chapel by Rev Roger Fox.

A display by the Heritage group in the village hall showed those from the village involved in D-Day and the Second World War; there was also refreshments and entertainment from Janet and Graham from the Craven Accordion Orchestra, with people from two to 92 years old attending.

A 'lamp of peace' was lit on the Maypole Green and a beacon was also lit at The Edge, watched by more than 40 residents.  Recently, a swing city band night in the village raised funds for a dementia charity and ‘Scotty’s Little Soldiers’ a charity that supports children of service personnel who have died - together with collections on D-Day, £600 was raised.