COMMUNITIES throughout the Cotswolds gathered for poignant Remembrance and Armistice Day services as the nation remembered those who had marched off to war but did not return.

Large crowds gathered in the towns and villages to commemorate the centenary of the year World War One broke out and took part in services to pay tribute to those servicemen who died.

It was a particularly memorable day for Chipping Norton Royal British Legion standard bearer Malcolm Holland who was retiring from the role after the Armistice Day ceremony on Tuesday. Mr Holland was presented with a gift from the RBL by the branch president Neville Edwards at a ceremony in the town hall after the Remembrance service.

Chipping Norton town mayor Mike Tysoe said: "It was a wonderful day on Sunday. We had a huge parade which included 50 RAF members, veterans, honorary citizens and dignitaries. We have never, ever seen such numbers at a Remembrance service before and it was nice to see Mr Holland receive his gift. There was also a large number of people, at least 100, at the war memorial on Tuesday."

More than 500 people attended the Sunday Remembrance service at Moreton. Town council chairman Councillor Tom Lewis said the day had been "splendid" adding: "It was a very good day generally. There must have been in excess of 500 people there. It was an amazing turnout."

The anniversary year saw several initiatives launched throughout the district including plans to build a brand new memorial, replacing of plaques and cleaning and repair to monuments.

WI members in Bourton and Wick helped raise more than £3,500 by knitting poppies which were sold in local shops while shops dedicated their windows to poppy displays.

Schools used the historic occasion to complete projects and several held services of their own.The children at Swell Primary School lay their own poppy wreath at the war memorial in Lower Sewell on Tuesday where they sang a hymn, said a prayer and observed two minutes' silence at 11am. The Year 6 children joined other local primary schools for a short service in Stow Square at 11am.

At Broadway, children from the primary school made felt from wool weft and them made their own poppies which they made into a banner for display in the school and village church after the Remembrance Day service.

Stow Royal British Legion launched an initiative with the Poppy Appeal, The Overseas Wreath Laying Service and The Commonwealth War Graves Commission to provide a wreath for every serviceman named on the Stow war memorial.