THOUSANDS of people have paid their respects to those who have died in wars at Remembrance Sunday services across the Bradford district.

The service in Bradford city centre started with a parade from City Hall to the War Memorial where civic dignitaries were joined by representatives from the armed forces, scout and guide groups, veterans and members of the public.

With several city centre roads closed off, hundreds of people were able to gather around the memorial for the service, which started shortly before 11am.

The Dean of Bradford, the Very Reverend Jerry Lepine, led the service, and as the City Hall bells chimed at 11am those attending the service impeccably observed the two-minute silence.

There were hymns and prayers read by representatives of Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Abid Hussain's Believing in Bradford project.

After the Lord's Prayer there was the laying of the wreaths, with armed forces representatives, Bradford's MPs and the Lord Mayor among those placing poppies at the foot of the memorial.

The service then ended with a march to Centenary Square.

In Keighley a parade, headed by City of York Pipe Band, made its way to Keighley Shared Church.

Among those taking part were veterans, civic representatives, cadet groups, the Scout and Guide movements, schools, the St John Ambulance and organisations from the town.

The church was packed for the remembrance service – led by the Reverend Ruth Crompton, team rector the Reverend Mike Cansdale and town chaplain the Reverend Dr Jonathan Pritchard.

Dignitaries, ex-service personnel and uniformed groups were joined by many ordinary members of the public to share in the commemoration.

Guests included Keighley MP John Grogan, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Doreen Lee, town mayor Councillor Mohammed Nazam, district and town councillors and senior police and fire service officers.

The Rev Cansdale gave the welcome.

In the introduction, the congregation was told: "We meet in the presence of God to remember with thanksgiving and sorrow those whose lives have been taken from them in wars and conflicts past and present, to commit ourselves to work in penitence and faith for reconciliation between the nations that all people may live together in freedom, justice and peace, and to pray for all who continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and war."

The service included a reading, and Cllr Nazam spoke about events during 1917.

A collection was taken, part of which will be donated to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Muslim and Sikh prayers and biddings for peace were led by town councillor Amjid Ahmed and Baldev Singh.

After the service, the parade reformed and headed to Town Hall Square where hundreds of people gathered.

The Last Post was played and the two-minute silence impeccably observed.

Wreaths were laid and the names read out of the 400-plus Keighley soldiers who gave their lives in 1917.

At Silsden, crowds turned out in force for a ceremony at the memorial gardens.

Regimental wreaths were among more than 30 laid at the war memorial.

The town's Legion chairman and parade commander, Jean Bower, said it was "heartening" that the attendance increased every year.

In Bradford in the early afternoon a Songs For Peace comemoration was held at the city's War Memorial.

Organised by the Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, it was held to honour not just soldiers, but all people killed in wars, including civilians, firefighters and military personnel who were killed for not wanting to fight.

In East Morton, a service was held at the Congregational Chapel, led by the Reverend Tony Cullingworth.

The church choir and uniformed groups took part and a collection raised £331 for the Legion's Keighley branch.

The service was followed by the laying of wreaths at the Memorial Institute.

Scouts and Guides marched through the centre of Queensbury as the village paid its respects to the fallen.