A number of events will take place across south Essex tomorrow to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day – and members of the public young and old are invited to attend all of them.

In Southend a beacon-lighting ceremony will take place at the Southend Cenotaph at 8.45pm.

It will include a performance by the Southend Band and Choir, followed by a D-Day 80 proclamation by Keith Evans, chairman of the Leigh Branch of the Royal British Legion.

A commemoration event will also take place in Rayleigh. Starting at 8.30pm in Bellingham Lane the event will culminate with a beacon lighting ceremony at 9.15pm.

This event will honour the enduring spirit of peace that emerged from the darkness of that historic day.

The beacon in Wat Tyler Park, Pitsea will be lit at 9pm following D-Day tributes and speeches.

At the Living Memorial, based at White House Farm, Rettendon, a D-Day service will take place at 12pm.

A number of veterans, ex servicemen and women, church leaders and a Sutherland Piper, will be attending – including Basildon Normandy veteran Don Sheppard. Don will be receiving a special police escort from Essex Police from his home,to the ceremony.

Schoolchildren from several schools will also be attending and there will be military vehicles on display. Rick Green from the Coldstream Guards will display a replica D-Day landing craft that he has made.