Council marks D-Day with flag raising ceremony

On 6 June 1944 more than 5,000 ships descended on five Normandy beaches

A council is holding a flag raising ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings.

Dorset Council will raise the D-Day 80 Flag of Peace at 09:00 BST on 6 June at the memorial outside County Hall in Dorchester.

The council said it was to show respect to British veterans and the serving armed forces.

D-Day saw more than 5,000 ships and landing craft descend on five Normandy beaches.

Veterans, military personnel and dignitaries will pay homage to the allied troops who left south coast ports and airfields for France on 6 June 1944.

It was the largest military naval, air and land operation ever attempted and marked the start of the campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied north-west Europe.

The Reverend John Yarrien, superintendent minister for Dorset South and West Methodist Circuit, will lead the service and will invite Dorset Council chair, Stella Jones MBE, to speak.

Messages from five charities will follow and St Osmund’s school choir will sing the peace round Dona Nobis Pacem and Benedictus Sanctus acapella.

The council has invited "everyone to attend to pay their respects".