People invited to attend service to mark 80th anniversary of D-Day

The service takes place in St George's Park, Great Yarmouth, and marks the crucial day in 1944 when almost 160,000 allied troops started landing on the Normandy beaches, beginning the liberation of occupied Europe.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council holds the service annually in collaboration with Great Yarmouth Minster and the Great Yarmouth branch of the Royal British Legion to honour the memory of those who fought and paid the ultimate price for freedom during the Second World War.

There will be a two-minute silence and the Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Paula Waters-Bunn, will lay a wreath at the war memorial on behalf of the borough. Members of the Royal British Legion will also lay a wreath.

People are asked to arrive for the service at 5:50pm for a 6pm start. The service - which will include readings, prayers and hymns - will be led by Revd Canon Simon Ward and the Mayor's Chaplain, Fr Alvan Ibeh, will also be in attendance.

Following the service, the Great Yarmouth Beacon in Anchor Gardens, on the seafront, will be lit at 9:15pm. The lighting of the beacon is part of a national initiative which will see beacons across the country lit to mark the D-Day anniversary. Further details about the nationwide event can be found here https://www.d-day80beacons.co.uk/

There will also be a display of memorabilia in Great Yarmouth Minster to mark the anniversary. If people have anything they would like to contribute to the display they are asked to email mayor@great-yarmouth.gov.uk

The official D-Day 80^th Anniversary Flag will also be flown at the Town Hall in Great Yarmouth from Monday, June 3, until Monday, June 10.

Councillor Waters-Bunn said: "The D-Day service is an opportunity for the whole community to honour and remember those who sacrificed so much during the Second World War.

''We hope as many people as possible are able to attend the service to mark this important anniversary.''