HEADS bowed and mood sombre – crowds turned out in force to honour the fallen at ceremonies across the region this morning.

Cities, towns and villages all marked Remembrance Day with parades and services as the military and civilians mingled to mourn those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

In Darlington more than 500 people attended the Cenotaph in the grounds of the Memorial Hospital following a church service in Holy Trinity Church.

The parade from the church, headed by Cockerton Prize Silver Band, included former and serving members of the Armed Forces alongside local dignitaries including Mayor Jan Taylor and local MP Jenny Chapman.

People bowed their heads in tribute as the Last Post sounded ahead of a minute silence as the Standard bearers lowered their flags to honour the dead.

Margaret Smith, 72, of Darlington, said: “This is the most people that I can remember seeing at a Remembrance Service in the town, it’s so good to see so many young and old paying their respects.”

Similar scenes took place at churches and war memorials across the North-East and North Yorkshire.

In Sunderland hundreds of service personnel and veterans joined the Mayor Doris MacKnight as the city paid its respects.

The city’s adopted regiment, 4 Regiment Royal Artillery, marked the two-minute silence when two of the regiment’s 105 mm light guns fired rounds from the terrace in Mowbray Park to signal the start and end.

In Leyburn some 200 local people took part in the service where the Last Post and Reveille was sounded by Jules Higham of Leyburn Band.

Local Mayor Trixie Walker and Richmond MP Rishi Sunak were among those who laid wreaths on the town’s war memorial.

In Middlesbrough, the service was led by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, and Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd laid the first wreath at the Cenotaph. 

In Redcar, the town’s RNLI standard bearer, crew and branch chairman were all involved in the Remembrance Parade which was led by the Mayor, Cllr Karen King.