THE fallen heroes of war were remembered in poignant services across the region yesterday.

At churches, war memorials and parades, thousands turned out to ensure that those who gave their lives would never be forgotten.

Among the tributes, were those paid to the region's most recent war dead who had lost their lives both during the conflict with Iraq and afterwards.

The Remembrance Day services were the first to be held since the war with Iraq ended.

In Darlington, crowds gathered for a service and wreath-laying ceremony at Holy Trinity Church, in Vane Terrace.

After the service, conducted by the Reverend Christopher Wardale, the 50th (Northumbrian) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) led the parade to the town's cenotaph to the sound of brass band music.

Residents surrounded the memorial as Mr Wardale opened the Act of Remembrance, saying: "We come to remember a solemn moment, a moment of silence that fell over the battlefields on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month."

Following the minute's silence, the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Ron Lewis, was the first to lay a wreath of Flanders Poppies at the foot of the cenotaph in memory of all those from the borough who laid down their lives.

Then, with medals proudly on show, representatives of various organisations followed suit, including the Royal British Legion Darlington branch, St John Ambulance Association and Darlington sub-division of Durham Constabulary.

In York, the Last Post rang out as more than 200 Armed Forces personnel paid their respects.

The Queen's Division Normandy Band and military personnel marched from Clifford's Tower to the Memorial Gardens accompanied by veterans, representatives of St John Ambulance, the British Red Cross Society, Army, Air and Sea Cadets and Scouts and Guides.

When the parade reached the Memorial Gardens, the Minute Gun was fired by soldiers from 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, based in Topcliffe, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, followed by the sounding of the Last Post. The Minute Gun was fired again and Reveille and the Ode to the Fallen were played.

Led by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne, wreaths were the laid at the Memorial Cross

Following a short remembrance service, the parade was inspected. The Lord Lieutenant and the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Charles Hall, took the salute. The parade then marched past along Leeman Road over Lendal Bridge to Tower Street before dispersing in the castle grounds.

In Durham, following a service at Durham Cathedral, a parade of veterans made its way from Palace Green to the Market Place. There, the salute was taken from a dais by County Durham's Lord Lieutenant, Sir Paul Nicholson and mayor Councillor Ray Gibbon.

In Sunderland, for the first time in years, the Royal Air Force supplied a detachment from RAF Leeming to march in the parade.

Soldiers from Catterick Garrison also joined the veterans as they made their way from the civic centre, in Burdon Road, to the War Memorial, in Mowbray Park.

In Newcastle, the main memorial service was held at the War Memorial, in Old Eldon Square, after which the Lord Mayor Councillor Margaret Carter took the salute at Grey's Monument.

In Teesside, thousands of people took part in ceremonies. Parades were held in Hartlepool, Stockton, Middlesbrough and Redcar, while many others took part in 26 other smaller ceremonies across Teesside and east Cleveland.