Towns and cities fall silent for Armistice Day

Ken Cooke who fought in Europe during World War Two

Towns and cities across Yorkshire came to a silent standstill as events were held to mark Armistice Day.

A two-minute silence was held across the UK at 11:00 GMT to commemorate the exact time an agreement to end the fighting in World War One came about on 11 November 1918.

Services and commemorations took place at war memorials and civic buildings across the region to mark the 107th anniversary of the end of hostilities.

In North Yorkshire, York's last surviving D-Day veteran 100-year-old Ken Cooke, joined pupils at Millthorpe secondary school for their remembrance service.

Mr Cooke, who was 18 when he landed on the beaches of Normandy on 6 June, 1944, was invited to the school and joined pupils in reading out a poem.

He said it was important to speak to young people to "make sure our experiences will never happen again".

Adam Baybatt, assistant principal and history teacher at the school, said it was "truly special" to have Mr Cooke as a guest, saying he had helped bring "history to life" for students.

He said: "It's so, so important that we never forget and to be able to show Ken that the next generation won't, and to reassure him and alleviate the concerns that the next generation might, was truly special."

One pupil, Oscar, 15, described Mr Cooke's visit as a "momentous moment for the school".

He added: "There's not many D-Day veterans last and to have one come and spend remembrance with us was such a privilege."

Students at Millthorpe School took part in the remembrance event

Elsewhere across the region, dozens of people turned out in Huddersfield to pay their respects.

Among those laying wreaths was Graham Wilton, from Huddersfield, whose 18-year-old son James who was killed in a drone attack in Ukraine after volunteering to fight there.

Mr Wilton said: "I thought it would be very apt to come and lay a wreath for James and remember what he sacrificed and hopefully one day Ukraine will be a better place for it."

James Wilton travelled to Ukraine to fight Russian forces after leaving college

The tributes also included those to fallen Sikh and Commonwealth soldiers who sacrificed their lives in both world wars.

Tim Bullhar, chairman of the Sikh Soldier Organisation, said: "Five million soldiers come from India during World War One and out of that 84,000 Sikh soldiers and over 109,000 were seriously injured.

"So we must not forget that these comrades are part and parcel for the freedom of our nation which we are living in today."

Crowds came out in the damp weather to pay their respects in Huddersfield

In Leeds, local leaders including Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Ed Anderson and Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, joined former and current service personnel at a service in Victoria Gardens.

Ch Supt Steve Dodds, Leeds district commander for West Yorkshire Police who also attended the event, said it was important people took the time to "stop and reflect".

"People made the ultimate sacrifice, but also people who were injured war and the impact that had on families back home, so it's so important to remember them all," he said.

Ch Supt Steve Dodds joined local leaders and the public in laying wreaths at the cenotaph in Leeds

In Bradford, people gathered at the cenotaph in the city centre for a service attended by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Mohammed Shafiq.

He said communities from all faiths had come together "to remember the loved ones we've lost".

Meanwhile in Sheffield, dozens of people came out for an event in Barkers Pool to pay their respects.

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