Fallen heroes remembered.

Byline: By Daniel Thomson

Silence fell across the North for two minutes yesterday in honour of Britain's fallen heroes.

Remembrance ceremonies on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month were led by The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Field of Remembrance in the grounds of Westminster Abbey.

Across the region, a two-minute silence was observed at churches, council buildings, offices and shopping centres as thousands of people paid tribute to those who paid the ultimate price for their country. The Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Coun George Douglas, took part in a two-minute silence at Newcastle Civic Centre yesterday and will be leading the ceremonies during Remembrance Day on Sunday.

He said: "We should never forget the sacrifices of the men and women who gave their lives in conflict for this country.

"Observing a two-minute silence at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month is an especially fitting tribute.

"Today's silence was particularly poignant, with so many British forces currently involved in conflicts overseas."

A service was also held at Hexham Abbey, where hundreds of people came together to pay their respects.

A Tynedale Council spokesman said: "The two-minute silence was observed today at the time of national remembrance in all Tynedale Council offices and leisure facilities in the district, in honour of the fallen in wars and conflicts."

The day was also commemorated in Gateshead, where two minutes' silence was observed at the Civic Centre and a Remembrance service was held at the Cenotaph in Birtley at 7pm. Armistice Day marks the end of the First World War on November 11, 1918, when the guns fell silent at 11am.

After the Second World War, Armistice Day was chosen to commemorate soldiers who fought in both World Wars and later conflicts.

A British Legion spokesman said: "This has become by far the biggest annual demonstration of public support for any cause in the country."