REMEMBRANCE events held across South Lakeland and north Lancashire saw some of the highest turnouts in years as residents and dignitaries paid their respects to those killed in combat.

Hundreds of people packed into town and village squares across the area on Sunday and Tuesday, as poems were read, wreaths were laid and communities fell silent to honour those who fought for their country.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron, one of the first to lay a wreath on the cenotaph in Kendal's Market Place at a memorial event on Sunday, said he believed the town's event had doubled in size since last year.

"It was really moving and I think the biggest remembrance commemorations here for many, many years," he said.

"Obviously knowing a lot of the people putting down the wreaths and knowing their personal stories made it very poignant."

Kendal mayor, Tom Clare, was the first to step up to the war memorial to lay poppies, followed by others from groups including the sea cadets, St John Ambulance and Cumbria police and fire services.

A respectful silence fell over the town as each group bowed, saluted or lowered their standards to the cenotaph.

Tony Crane, county base chairman of the Royal British Legion, spoke the Ode of Remembrance, and buglers marked the start and end of a two minute silence.

Bugler, Clive Sumpter, of the Kendal sea Cadets, hailed a 'moving' ceremony, before those in attendance followed a parade to the parish church.

The events, to mark the ending of World War One, hold special significance in what is the centenary since WW1 began and the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

Mr Farron later attended an event in Windermere, where a roll-call of residents who died in both the first and second world wars was read out.

Names of the fallen were also read out in other services including at Preston Patrick, Carnforth and Skelsmergh, among others.

Ulverston began its own memorial events with a Royal Albert Hall-style 'Festival of Remembrance' concert at the Coronation Hall on Friday.