Service held at Bolton Parish Church to remember the men that died at the battle of Passchendaele

The battle, which took place from July 30 to November 6, 1917, in Ypres, Belgium, was one of the bleakest of the First World War.

It is believed that 310,000 Allied soldiers, including men from Bolton, and 260,000 German soldiers lost their lives.

On Sunday night, the Bolton community, along with local dignitaries got together at Bolton Parish Church to remember those who were lost.

The service was led by the Vicar of Bolton, Reverend Matt Thompson, and featured prayers, hymns and readings.

Representatives from local armed forces associations led processions into and out of the church.

Mr Thompson said at the beginning of the ceremony: "It started 100 years ago tomorrow and it lasted for 103 days.

"We remember the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and all Boltonians who died in that battle and we honour their memory that evening."

During his address to the church, he added: "We have stood in honour of those who fought and died to defend there nation, their homes and their families in hope of a better world.

"We stand in remembrance of those who died a century ago and those who are dying still."

Among those that stood to read at the service were Cllr John Walsh, who recited from The War Diary of the Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and Mayor of Bolton Roger Hayes, who read a bible passage from Matthew.

Among the hymns was Abide With Me.

Before the end of the ceremony, The Last Post was performed for the gathered crowd and a minute's silence was also observed.

Donna Ball, assistant director at Bolton Council, visited the Menin Gate, in Ypres, and laid a wreath on behalf of the town last week.

Speaking about the experience, she said: "I was truly honoured to lay this wreath. So many young men from Bolton died on Belgian soil and it's only right that we not only remember them but understand the sacrifices they made.

"It was truly heartbreaking to see that so many of them were boys at only 19 years of age.

"I went on a personal journey to remember my great grandfather William Dearnaley, who died alongside five pals from the Manchester Regiment whilst delivering supplies to the frontline. He left his poor wife Amy to raise her three children including my grandmother Mary.

"It was a honour whilst doing that to lay a wreath from the Mayor of Bolton Roger Hayes at the Menin Gate to honour all those thousands of men in unmarked graves.

"The graves are marked 'Known unto God' as they are not identified but their sacrifice is known to me and to all those who remember those who went away to foreign lands, many for the first time to fight for our freedom and rights."

Boltonian, Fred Spencer, visited the Menin Gate in Ypres to remember his Grandfather, Joseph Spencer, who was killed fighting at Passchendaele.

While there, he filmed a video and read out some of the other Bolton men who died in the First World War.

Around 3,300 men from Bolton were killed fighting in the war.