MORE than 15,000 people enjoyed a moving tribute to the fallen at a memorial concert in Heaton Park tonight.

The crowds flocked to the Prestwich beauty spot and were treated to an emotional evening of music, poetry, drama and readings on this, the centenary of the outbreak of the Battle of the Somme.

The five-month-long conflict in France claimed a million lives – and more than 19,240 British soldiers on just the first day of the battle.

The concert was among a series of commemorations held across Europe today and guests snapped up 19,000 tickets – given away free – soon after they were made available.

Though damp conditions kept some of them away tonight, visitors came to the park from all over the UK to be part of a poignant tribute.

Coaches brought people from Wales, Birmingham, the North West and Yorkshire to name but a few.

With fold-up chairs and blankets at the ready, the crowds sat before a huge stage video screen near the park’s Farm Centre.

There were heartfelt performances of World War One songs, such as Keep The Homes Fires Burning and Rose of No Man’s Land, interspersed with vivid first-hand accounts of the hellish conditions of the trenches, as soldiers contended with bitter cold, pouring rain, rats and flesh-eating flies.

The park was chosen to stage the concert as some of those who fought in the battle 100 years ago were trained there, learning how to dig trenches.

One particularly feature of the performance tonight was the number of children and families in the audience.

The show’s directors brought in hundreds of children to perform and among the highlights was a series of diary readings from the Somme, read by present-day children.

“I particularly liked that part,” said Helen Loftus, aged 39, who had travelled from Warrington with her children Simon, aged 15, and Nicola, aged eight.

Mrs Loftus added: “It’s important that children today understand the incredible sacrifice that was made, and those readings really conveyed that point.”

Readings focused on, not only British soldiers, but Commonwealth fighters who came from countries like India and died for the Allied Forces in France.

Diary entries also came from the heroic women who worked as volunteer nurses in France or helped in the war effort back home.

Another highlight was a performance by Manchester’s own Halle Orchestra, whose musicians dazzled the crowd throughout the evening.

A thoughtful touch from the organisers was the decoration of a path leading into the park with 5,000 ceramic tiles to symbolise those who gave their lives.

“They really went all out when they organised this,” said Peter Fulwood, aged 50, of Manchester Road, Bury.

“It was a perfect tribute appreciated by many.”