ACCRINGTON fell silent on Saturday to commemorate the lives of the famous Pals, 90 years to the day after they suffered devastating losses in the Battle of the Somme.
A two-minute silence was observed in the town and a memorial service was held in Church Street gardens, where wreaths were laid by council leader Peter Britcliffe, MP Greg Pope and Mayor Mohammed Rahman.
A total of 235 Pals were killed and 350 wounded on 1 July 1916, the first day of the battle, when they were ordered "over the top'' and were mown down by German machine gun and rifle fire.
The day's events began with a special meeting of Hyndburn Council to transfer the Freedom of the Borough from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment to the new Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border).
After the meeting, councillors walked in procession to the Church Street memorial.
The Last Post was played and Royal British Legion flag-bearers lowered their standards as a mark of respect during the two minutes' silence.
Many of those who attended the service also visited the Baxenden Bash, a fun day held in Haworth Park to commemorate the Pals and to mark the opening of an exhibition, entitled Our Dear Pals, the Somme and the Great War, at the Haworth Art Gallery.
Mosaics of before, during and after the battle, designed by local schoolchildren, were displayed in the park, as well as an exhibition of Nursing Then and Now and old-fashioned games such as a coconut shy.
A variety of bands and musicians also contributed to the family atmosphere.
