AN 80-YEAR-OLD man who collapsed during yesterday's Armistice Day ceremony at the town centre War Memorial has expressed his thanks to those who helped him.

Pete Smith attended the service on Sunday morning, which marked the 100th anniversary since the guns went silent at the end of the First World War.

Pete, who lives in Burtonwood, was there to pay his respects to his grandfather Peter Highcock who died on November 14, 1918, seven days after being shot.

Hhe is one of the people commemorated on the memorial.

When Pete became dizzy during the service and fell, two men helped to get him up and took him over towards the town hall steps to be checked over by St John's Ambulance.

Pete said to the Star: "I'd just like to thank those who looked after me.

"I just got dizzy and then I was on the floor. I had been there since 9.45am and had been stood there quite a while. It was cold and damp, so maybe that that had an effect."

Pete added: "They picked me up and walked me across to the side of the town hall steps where St John's Ambulance were, who sat me down and later on gave me a cup of tea.

"I'd like to thank them for what they did, I just appreciate what they'd done."