FAMILIES, veterans and communities across the region are honouring our fallen heroes this Remembrance Sunday, despite the challenges of lockdown.

Traditional services were scaled back to adhere to coronavirus restrictions, but the region has come up creative and poignant ways to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their life in conflict.

Church services have largely been held online, wreaths placed on war memorials by just small gatherings and many held their two minutes silence at home.

Landmark buildings have been lit up red and people have crafted poppy and soldier displays at their homes, schools, villages and towns.

Durham County Council has illuminated Bishop Auckland Town Hall, County Hall, the Butter Market at Barnard Castle, the war memorial and poppy fence at Seaham, Chester-le-Street War Memorial and Durham Town Hall, which is covered in a cascade of thousands of knitted poppies produced by the parish council with the support of Durham County Council, volunteer residents, local WIs, an art group and local businesses.

The City of Durham Parish Chair Councillor Elizabeth Scott said: “Durham has an incredible history of armed forces service and this Remembrance Day, the Parish Council is exceptionally keen to play its part in ensuring that we do everything we can to commemorate the sacrifices made by that brave generation, in spite of all of the challenges which the current pandemic has clearly thrown at us all.

“Hence our work on this display. This has been the most remarkable joint community effort and we really want to say a huge thank you to the many volunteer hands who have brought this display to fruition.”

Durham County Council is one of many organisations to create a series of online events and virtual content so people to mark the occasion safely from the comfort of their own homes, available at durham.gov.uk/remembrance2020

In a pre-recorded video named Honouring the dead, people will be able to hear the Chairman, Chief Executive of Durham County Council and the Lord Lieutenant pay tribute to those in the region who fought and died in different conflicts across the world.

Lord Lieutenant Sue Snowdon said: “Our Armed Forces, police and blue light services are masters of adaptability and tremendous examples of their significant national support both to the local authorities and the NHS have been observed throughout these past months.

“It is more important than ever that we remember the fallen not just with sadness, but with eternal respect and gratitude in the knowledge that we are living the future they fought for.”

To support the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal visit britishlegion.org.uk

  • The Northern Echo will bring you pictures of Remembrance tributes from across the region as they come in