THOUSANDS are expected to gather at events and church services across St Helens on Sunday, November 11 to mark 100 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War.

On Armistice Day, the main St Helens service will take place at Victoria Square on Sunday from 10.25am.

A parade - led by Armed Forces veterans and young representatives from the cadets, scouts and guides - will make its way from Birchley Street to the war memorial in front of St Helens Town Hall.

The ceremony will open with a welcome and prayers from local parish reverends before the square observes a two-minute silence at 11am.

After the two-minute silence, the ceremony will continue with words of commemoration; a rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’ by a lone piper; and a performance by the Haydock Male Voice Choir.

The ceremony will close with the National Anthem, led by the Valley Brass Band and Haydock Male Voice Choir, before the laying of wreathes.

Following the service, the town hall will be open for tea and coffee where there will also be the opportunity to view a local First World War photo exhibition, courtesy of the St Helens Community Archive.

In Earlestown and Newton-le-Willows the focal point will be the war memorial at Earlestown Town Hall, with the event due to get underway at 10.45am.

St Helens North MP Conor McGinn and Deputy Mayor of St Helens, Janet Johnson, are among those due to attend.

The A57 Warrington Road, from View Road to St James Road, will be closed for Rainhill’s procession from St Ann’s Church for a wreath laying ceremony at noon.

Meanwhile, as part of the St Helens 150 events programme, the ‘Beacons of Light’ tribute at Taylor Park will symbolise the ‘light of hope’ that emerged from the darkness of war.

The ceremony will get underway at 6.45pm. Those attending are asked to meet at the Boathouse Café at 6.30pm.

There will also be a beacon lighting and brass band concert in Earlestown.

Guests are asked to meet at Wilko’s in Earlestown at 6.45pm on Sunday the November, 11. The Last Post will be played at 6.55pm and the beacon lit at 7pm.

A free brass band concert will take place between 7pm and 8pm and candles will be lit in tribute to those from Newton-le-Willows killed in the First World War.

Meanwhile, Billinge will be hosting a Remembrance service at 3pm at St Aidan's Church, before taking part in a Lighting the Beacons event by lighting a torch at the top on Billinge Hill at 7pm. All welcome.

Prescot will be holding a parade on Sunday from Prescot Primary School to Prescot Parish Church and on to the cenotaph from 10am.

The parade will be leaving from Prescot Primary School at 10.20am arriving at Prescot Parish Church at 10.50am for an outdoor service and laying of wreaths at the Cenotaph outside Prescot Parish Church.

There will also be an indoor service at Prescot Parish Church at 11.15am, and a return parade to Prescot Primary School leaving at noon.