GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Council will mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War by remembering those who served both in the conflict and others since.

At a full council meeting councillors passed a unanimous motion to pay tribute to everyone who played a part in the conflict and in particular the sacrifice of local people.

Members agreed to support the county’s centenary celebrations on Monday, August 4 led by the Lord Lieutenant, Dame Janet Trotter DBE.

District councils, schools and community groups will be encouraged to apply for a grant from the Heritage Lottery to support local centenary celebrations.

And the council will reach out to veterans and their families to thank them and pay tribute to all the charities that help members of the armed forces and their families in Gloucestershire.

Councillors also agreed to join the First World War Centenary Partnership, a network of more than 1,800 local, regional, national and international cultural and education organisations led by the Imperial War Museums which provides a network of resources to organise commemoration events.

Councillor Paul McMahon who proposed the motion, said: “It’s only right that we remember and pay our respects to those brave men and women who served their country during this terrible conflict, and importantly, to those who were injured and made the ultimate sacrifice.

"It’s especially important that we seek to tell Gloucestershire’s children and young people of the sad realities of war and the need to try and ensure it does not happen again.”

Councillor Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, added: "Each and every one of us takes for granted the freedom we have today, freedom that we couldn’t always be so certain of.

"It’s our duty to remember the sacrifice that people made for us and never forgotten.”