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

Brian Coolin, above left, of the AOC Association, and Michael Harland, with the Bicester Royal British Legion Standard

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.

Mayor Diana Edwards led Bicester's Remembrance service, when she laid a wreath at St Edburg's Parish Church. After the service, she took the salute in Market Square. She was accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel Peter Jones, representing Bicester Garrison, Lieutenant Colonel Wade Jenkins, representing the American Air Force at RAF Croughton, Burgomeister Helmet Meng, from Bicester's German twin community of Neunkirchen-Seelschied, and Claude Blais, from Bicester's French twin Canton Des Essarts.