Silence fell across Oxfordshire yesterday, as people stood to remember those who lost their lives in war.

Thousands of people around the county packed churches and gathered around war memorials to lay wreathes and pay their respects to those who died in the two world wars and other conflicts.

Among those marking the sombre occasion were ex-servicemen and women, supporters of the Royal British Legion, Scouts and Guides, army and air cadets, Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

At 11am, people stood for the two-minute silence, heralded by The Last Post.

The largest ceremony took place in St Giles, Oxford, where crowds applauded a procession of ex-servicemen.

St Giles and part of Beaumont Street were closed to traffic.

Organisations taking part in the parade included the the Royal British Legion, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Association, the Parachute Regiment Association, the Royal Rifle Volunteers, Oxford Spires District Scouts, and various cadet forces.

They saluted dignitaries including the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Gill Sanders, the vice-Chancellor of Oxford University Dr Colin Lucas, the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Hugo Brunner, the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Brigadier Nigel Mogg, and Wolter Lemstra the Burgemeester of Oxford's Dutch twin-town of Leiden.

The service was conducted by the Rev Hugh Lee, the Rev Dr Ralph Waller and the Rev Dr Clarence Gallagher, with music from the Oxford Salvation Army band and St Giles' church choir.

The Last Post was sounded by buglers from the Waterloo Band and the Royal Rifle Volunteers. It was followed by a gun salute by the Oxford University Officer Training Corps, then the two-minute silence.

After the ceremony, guests gathered for a reception in St John's College.

Mrs Sanders said: "It was a very touching and emotional service. "The highlight is seeing the veterans walk past, as we owe them a lot. The one sad thing is the fact that the number of veterans is getting smaller every year."

Dr Lucas said: "It's important we should go on having this moving moment when we remember the nature of history, and what civilized society is willing to do to protect civilization."

He said it was also a poignant occasion, when the university remembered those from its own colleges who lost their lives.

Ex-serviceman Les Butt, 79, of Kestrel Crescent, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, joined the ceremony with fellow members of the Oxford Royal Naval and Royal Marine Association, based in Cowley,

He said: "We look forward to Remembrance Sunday.

"We remember the chaps we served with and we remember the times we had. We lost a few good mates."

Basil Cook, 77, of Southdale Road, north Oxford, represented the Parachute Regiment Association. He said: "There's always a very good procession, but we're getting low on numbers.

"There used to be a big crowd of Paras, but a lot have faded away. It's quite sad, but we never forget them."

A parade marched through Wolvercote and Wytham, while in Littlemore, a ceremony was held outside the Royal British Legion hall in Lakefield Road, joined by ex-servicemen and members of the Jubilee Brass Band.