A GROUP of 45 people gathered in Eccleshill for a lights out ceremony to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War.

Eccleshill War Memorial, on the Recreation Ground off Stone Hall Road, held a 25-minute event, including poetry and music from the 1914-1918 Great War, from 10pm on Monday night.

Councillors and Bradford East MP David Ward joined members of the Eccleshill Village Steering Group for the commemorative service.

Former Lord Mayor, cllr Howard Middleton (Bolton and Undercliffe) said: "In the year that the Alhambra opened, Bolton and Eccleshill went into war between two extensions to Bradford's first trolley-bus route, which was to reach Bolton crossing the Eccleshill tram wires."

After a final prayer and a minute's silence, all of the candles at the service were extinguished to coincide with the national lights out initiative.