Stunning tribute to fallen soldiers on Blackpool beach
People travelled from across the North West to etch pictures of lost soldiers in the sand
Hundreds of people from across the North West headed to Blackpool Beach to pay tribute to fallen soldiers and people who helped in the war effort, to mark 100 years since the end of World War I.
'Pages of the Sea' was created by Bury-born director Danny Boyle, and saw volunteers get up at the crack of dawn to etch the portrait of a soldier who lost his life in battle, into the sand.
Members of the public were then invited to head onto the beach to use stencil outlines of soldiers, nurses and civilians and etch their own tribute into the sand.
Blackpool was the first beach to welcome people, thanks to its early tide.
By 10am, hundreds of outlines dotted the beach, some with the names of fallen men and women, and other sporting boquets of flowers or small wooden crosses.
One man, David, had come along to pay tribute to his Grandfather, who fought at the Battle of the Somme and had taken part in the Christmas Day ceasefire, when British and German troops laid down their weapons and took part in a game of football in No Man's Land.
At 10:30, the tide began washing away the pictures and within 15 minutes, they had all been completely erased from the shoreline.
Abigail Wrigley, with her daughter, Caroline, aged nine, brought faded family photos to the beach to remember her own relatives who fought, and died, serving the country.
Mrs Wrigley, from Bolton-le-Sands, Lancashire, held pictures of her great grandfather William John McLean, from Milford Haven, mentioned in dispatches in the First World War, who died at sea in 1940 during the Second World War.
She also held pictures of his two sons, her great uncles, Billy and Harry McLean, who survived the 1939-45 conflict.
Mrs Wrigley said: There are a few of our family that have been in the services and this is what we are bringing today to think of them.
They felt they had to serve their country and it meant that we have all the opportunities and liberties we do have today.
I heard on the radio someone saying it's about glorifying the dead, it's not, it really isn't. It's about remembering gratefully those who gave their lives so that we could have what we have.
It's really poignant. These are the people who didn't come home. These are the people whose lives stopped and they are the reason why we are where we are.
It's sad, they are not with us but we are very, very grateful that they did what they did and I feel like it's a matter of honour to respect them.''
Rebecca Snowden was on the beach with her three teenage children and her mother to pay their own respects.
Mrs Snowden, from Poulton, Lancs, said: It's important to remember, we've brought the children as well. It needs to be remembered.
The fact that they are drawing these portraits on the sand, I just think is perfect. We won't forget.''
Her mother Shelagh Snowden, added: It's something the children will really remember as they get older. It is to honour them because it was the most horrific experience for them.
The stories from the soldiers home, looking forward to mum's apple pie and seeing so-and-so, so personal and they never made it. It could be us couldn't it?'