Hundreds of people across Bracknell Forest turned out in mass for celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

From the town centre beacon lighting at the Lexicon to the host of entertainment on offer in Binfield and Crowthorne, smiling faces could be seen across all corners of the borough.

On Thursday, June 6, we celebrated and commemorated the soldiers who fought and sacrificed their lives in the Second World War.

The celebrations and rememberance ceremony in Bond Square began at 8 pm and finished around 9:30 pm. School pupils attended, alongside the Mayor of Bracknell Forest, where they recited commemorative war poems which were written as part of a competition run by local schools.

The beacon lighting brought the event to a close as people remembered the service of the veterans who contributed to the ending of the Second World War at Normandy.

A spokesperson from Bracknell Forest Council said: “Thank you to everyone who joined us at our D-Day 80th Anniversary last night.

“It was an honour to be joined by the Deputy Lieutenant, Sean Taylor, local veterans and the winners of the schools D-Day poetry competition.”

In Binfield, residents gathered from 6:30pm to 9:30pm to enjoy a variety of events hosted by Binfield Parish Council.

The celebrations started with a parade around Foxley Fields with a Bagpiper, the parade marshal, the Royal British Legion and Binfield Unit Groups.

Further entertainment through the evening included live music from a 1940s music group called the Starlight Singers and a bagpiper playing as the beacon was lit.

The Foxes’ Den café opened for refreshments.

Other events that took place across the area included the Crowthorne D-Day 80, the Sandhurst Freedom March and the D-Day Party in the Park at Victory Fields Recreational grounds.