Britons fall silent for war dead

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Millions of people across Britain have remembered those who have died in war as a two-minute silence was held to mark Armistice Day.

The silence, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, represented the moment when all guns stopped at the end of World War I.

The public fell silent as Big Ben chimed at 1100 GMT.

Britain's oldest veteran, 109-year-old Henry Allingham, travelled to France to lay a wreath at a British memorial.

It is the first permanent memorial to British air personnel who served on the Western Front.

Mr Allingham, who is the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland and the last surviving founder member of the Royal Air Force, was joined by Air Vice Marshal Peter Dye, the RAF's deputy commander-in-chief, and 12 aircraft engineer trainees from RAF Cosford, near Wolverhampton.

The two minute silence is the single biggest annual demonstration of public support for any cause in the country Stuart Gendall, from the Royal British Legion In pictures: UK remembers Veterans live on £10,000

Wreaths were also laid at the Memorial Gates on Constitution Hill in London to mark the 60 year anniversary of the end of the World War II, as well as Armistice Day.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair, Field Marshal Sir John Chapple, laying a wreath on behalf of Prince Charles and the Gurkhas, and Minister of Armed Forces Adam Ingram all attended.

The London Eye has been illuminated in red to mark the day. It stopped moving as those inside - schoolchildren accompanied by World War II veteran Len Jeans - paid their respects.

Lloyds of London rang the Lutine Bell to mark the start and finish of the two-minute silence.

HAVE YOUR SAY It's the least I can do for those who gave their lives in freedom's name Paul Robinson Send us your comments

Following that, the Last Post was played and Lord Levene, chairman of Lloyds, and a representative from the Royal British Legion laid two wreaths in the famous Underwriting Room.

A ceremony was also held to honour the five million people from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Africa and the Caribbean who fought in both world wars.

Stuart Gendall, from the Royal British Legion, said: "The two-minute silence is the single biggest annual demonstration of public support for any cause in the country.

"This small yet significant individual and collective act is a rare moment when the nation can stand together and reflect upon the price of freedom."