CROWDS gathered across the country to witness beachside events marking the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Portraits of those who left Britain to fight to never return home were etched into the sand in honour of Armistice Day.

Artists began work in the early hours at low tides and used stencils and rakes to create the images.

The project was inspired by film-maker Danny Boyle as an informal, nationwide gesture of remembrance.

On 32 beaches from Cornwall to the Shetland Isles, and Pembrokeshire to Donegal, portraits of the fallen were sculpted in the sand.

The portraits were created to say thank you to those who sacrificed their lives before a collective goodbye as the sea came in and washed away their images forever.

One of the memorial sites was Roker Beach, in Sunderland. A portrait of fallen soldier Hugh Carr, from Houghton-le-Spring, was sculpted into the sand.

Lieutenant Carr was enlisted in York on October 20 following the outbreak of the war 1914. He later transferred to the Royal Engineers, 172 Tunnelling Company, with the rank of Second Lieutenant. Lt Carr was seriously wounded when a German shell exploded in a trench positioned in the small French village of St Eloi, 5km south of Ypres.

He was taken by train to a field hospital in Remy Siding, Poperinge, with leg, head and arm injuries but died of his wounds two days later, aged 25.

Members of the public gathered to lend a hand and pay their respects to the North-East soldier and many grabbed a stencil and etched a soldier into the sand creating a beach of silhouettes.

Other’s could be seen drawing poppies and writing personal messages to loved ones lost in the war.

People came from across the North-East to commemorate Armistice Day including Shaun Wilson from Sunderland. He brought his family and children to the Pages of the Sea commission to show them the importance of remembering fallen heroes.

Mr Wilson said: “We came to remember members of my family and other soldiers too as with it being 100 years it’s a very special day. The soldiers gave everything so for me it’s very important to remember those as they ensured we could be here today.

“I think the event is fantastic, it’s drawn so many people down today.”

A poem written by Carol Ann Duffy was also read by individuals, families and communities as they gathered on the beach, a choir could also be heard honouring fallen soldiers.

The Roker event was one of the lucky few beaches to be commissioned for the event.

Sunderland Culture’s chief executive, Keith Merrin, said it was fantastic for the city.

He said: “You’ll see today so many hundreds possibly thousands of people have come down here and used art and culture to commemorate those who gave their lives in the First World War.

“I think for Sunderland it gives the city recognition as it plays a really important part in everything this county does.”

Redcar beach was also selected to take part in the event, the image of Private Theophilus Jones was etched in the sand. He was the first British soldier to die on English soil when he was killed guarding a gun battery.”