THOUSANDS will gather across Bolton on Sunday to remember those who lost their lives during the war.

Residents, local groups, councillors and ex-servicemen will come together to mark Remembrance Day.

Westhoughton starts proceedings early on Sunday with a Remembrance Day Parade assembling at 9.20am outside St Bartholomew’s C.E. Primary School yard, in The Fairways, before departing to the Parish Church of St Bartholomew.

A Remembrance service will take place at 10am before attendees depart for the town's war memorial at 10.40am for the laying of the wreaths and two minutes silence at 11am. This will be followed by a parade back to The Fairways and Mayor Lynda Winrow-Baker will also take the salute at the Town hall steps.

Bromley Cross's parade from Health Centre to Christ Church Walmsley starts at 9.30am with a service at 10am.

There will be a further service and the laying of the wreaths at the War Memorial from 10.50am, followed by the two minutes silence.

Councillor Norman Critchley said they expected a 'wonderful turnout' as had been enjoyed in previous years.

It is a morning start for Kearsley too as the parade, led by Farnworth & Walkden Brass Band, sets off from Kearsley Cricket Club at 9.30am to the Cenotaph before a service at St John Fisher Roman Catholic Church from10.15am.

Farnworth & Walkden Brass Band will also be participating in Farnworth's parade starting at10.30am from outside ASDA, before heading down Market Street to the Cenotaph where there will be a service and return parade.

Events start in Bolton on Saturday with the Remembrance Concert at Bolton Parish Church from 7pm before returning to Victoria Square on Sunday when the cadets and veterans will be joined by political and civic leaders and members of the public for the main service of remembrance.

The service, led by the Vicar of Bolton, the Rev Matt Thompson, will start at 10.45am, with groups assembling at 10.30am, leading up to the two minutes silence at 11am.

On Sunday The Venue Bar, in Churchgate, will be taking customers back to the war years with songs and music from that era in aid of the Poppy Appeal.

Performing Live on stage will be Jessica B, a local Bolton Singer who will perform on stage from 4pm.

John Wray, co-owner of the Venue Bar, said: “It is good to be able to play many of the songs that our parents and grandparents listened to and meant so much to them. Songs we will all know the words to.

"We are over the weekend hoping with the support of our customers to raise as much funds as possible for the Poppy Appeal.”

Horwich and Blackrod will be hosting their Remembrance Sunday events from 11.30am.

The Town Mayor of Horwich, Cllr Ken Denton, members of Horwich Town Council and the Horwich branch of the Royal British Legion will take part in the parade starting outside Horwich RMI Club at 11.30am.

A service will follow at the Garden of Remembrance, in Lever Park Avenue at 12.15pm before the return parade.

Blackrod will host a laying of Wreaths at the Cenotaph at 2.15pm followed by procession to St Katharine’s Church where there will be a Remembrance Service at 3pm.

In Little Lever, the service of Rememberance will be held at the War Memorial at the Library at 11.00am on Sunday.

Then at 3pm, the Parish of Saint Matthew will hold a service of memorial and thanksgiving.