Services take place across Lancashire to mark centenary of the Battle of the Somme

Services are being held across Lancashire to remember the thousands of men who lost their lives fighting in the Battle of the Somme 100 years ago today.

Published 1st Jul 2016

Services are being held across Lancashire to remember the thousands of men who lost their lives fighting in the Battle of the Somme 100 years ago today.

584 of the Accrington Pals were killed within the first 20 minutes of the World War One clash.

The battle left towns across the county devastated as virtually all the young men were wiped out.

A service is being held at Clitheroe Castle to mark the centenary today.

WATCH: A man dressed in a World War One soldier's uniform blew a whistle at 7.30am - the exact moment when hundreds of men ran onto the battlefield and were ultimately killed

The service is taking place next to the statue of the Unknown Soldier - whose head is bowed and he's facing out to the Ribble Valley in the direction of France.

People will be taking it in turns to stand on the plinth next to the Unknown Soldier to pay their respects to those who have fallen - this will be carried out through until 7.30pm where the service will end with a poem and the Last Post.

WATCH: People in Clitheroe pay their respects to the men who died in the Battle of the Somme: