VETERANS in Pershore joined the mayor of the town and pupils from Abbey Park Middle School at a special service of remembrance to mark the beginning of the First World War.

The event took place at the school on Thursday, July 10, alongside members of the Royal British Legion and Royal Naval Association.

Famous First World War poems were read out as a prelude to the Pershore Poppy Appeal Committee's poetry competition.

This was followed by the reading out of the 101 names on Pershore's Roll of Honour of the men from the town who fell during 1914 and 1918.

The service ended to the sound of the Last Post and Reville, played by Pershore High School's head girl Alice Bull, and a minute's silence.

This marked the start of the a special day of activities for the children, including penning some poems for the town's poetry competition.

Trudy Burge, honorary secretary of Pershore and District RNA, helped to organise the day.

She said: "I knew from the school's Armistice Day last November just how seriously these lovely children take remembrance and today's service was just as poignant with all the children showing the utmost respect and interest.

"To hear the names of the Fallen memorised and read aloud by the youngsters of the town was very special and I know all the veterans felt very privileged to be a part of their special day."

Mrs Burge will also be judging the poetry competition.

She added: "I'm not looking forward to having to try and narrow it down to just three winners but we've decided all the poems will be bound into a special book at the school to serve as sort of time-capsule for the WW1 Centenary."