EVENTS have been held today in Chard and Ilminster to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day landings.

In Chard, the town crier read a proclamation from the Guildhall balcony.

A message from the town council read: "Thank you to all who attended yesterday's (June 6) events at the Beacon, as we paid our respects to the D-Day landings of June 6, 1944.

"We hope you enjoyed yourselves, thank you for coming along, it was great to see the community come together, and added thanks to those who supported the event in varying ways."

The Chard town crier The Chard town crier (Image: Melvin Green)

Chard town crier Stuart Cumming read the proclamation from the Guildhall balconyChard town crier Stuart Cumming read the proclamation from the Guildhall balcony (Image: Melvin Green)

In Ilminster, pupils from Herne View Primary School read a poem at an event that also featured the Mayor, Cllr Bryan Hamilton, and the town crier at the Recreation Ground.

The town's Beacon Lighting ceremony was cancelled due to a medical emergency.

The Mayor said “a lot of people made the ultimate sacrifice, not only in the battlefield but at home as well.”

He also added: “On this day we are not only remembering the sacrifice of the army, the navy, and the soldiers, but we also remember those who were left behind at home”.