THOUSANDS will turn out this Sunday across to remember those who have died fighting for their country.

This year’s event will be particularly poignant as it marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One.

In Astley Bridge today, guests will gather at the British Legion Club in Belmont Road at 9.45am where pipers will lead a procession to St Paul’s Church in Holland Street for a service.

During the service children from local schools will extinguish candles for every life lost by a serviceman from the area.

The legion club will then hold a special concert from noon until 5pm, with a further short service at 9.15pm.

In Blackrod, the remembrance parade will begin at the war memorial at 2.15pm and move through the village to St Katherine’s Church for a 3pm service. The Mayor, dignitaries and members of the Royal British Legion will head to the Hilltops club in Hill Lane afterwards, with everyone welcome.

Westhoughton residents will assemble outside St Bartholomew’s Primary School in The Fairways ready to depart at 9.40am to the parish of St Bartholomew, where a church service will be held at 10am.

The party depart to the town’s war memorial at 10.40am for a service and the laying of wreaths at 11am.

Finally, at 11.15am the parade will head back to the primary school and the mayor and Cllr Kevan Jones will take the salute on the town hall steps.

In Horwich, people will gather outside the RMI club in Ramsbottom Road at 11.30am, setting off 10 minutes later.

The group will then walk through Victoria Road, Church Street and Lee Lane before stopping at the Public Hall for the laying of the wreath.

A service of remembrance will be held in the garden of remembrance in Lever Park Avenue at 12.15pm, after which they will return to the RMI club.

The Dunscar remembrance parade will begin at the Egerton and Dunscar Health Centre in Darwen Road at 9am and walk to Christ Church in Walmsley for a service.

At 11am, people will assemble at the memorial which lies at the junction of Blackburn Road and Darwen Road.

In Farnworth, the assembly point will be at the bottom of Brackley Street near Asda at 10am and the parade will move onto Market Street, to the town’s war memorial, for a service at 11am.

Little Lever’s residents will meet at the community centre in Mytham Road at 10.30am before parading up to Coronation Square, where the war memorial stands.