TOWNS throughout the Swindon area will fall silent today to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

The selfless bravery and courage of the thousands of soldiers who stormed the beaches at Normandy in Operation Overlord and helped turn the tide of the Second World War will be remembered at services in Swindon, Royal Wootton Bassett and Wroughton.

Mayor of Swindon Kevin Parry and the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire Sarah Rose Troughton will attend a coffee morning at the Royal British Legion's pop-in shop on Regent Street from 10.30am, with short speeches followed by a minute's silence around 11am.

Shop manager Isobel Thompson said: "I think that it's really important that we learn history because if we forget the past, there is a risk that we may make the same mistakes again.

"So many people sacrificed their lives for our freedom today and we take it for granted, so we need to remember what happened all those years ago."

Ferndale Primary School children will visit the shop to see their display of poetry and footprints which they made after learning about the largest seaborne invasion in history during their lessons.

Elsewhere, Royal Wootton Bassett’s Town Hall museum will be open from 10am to 2pm, with special displays about the town’s involvement in the historic operation inside and a mix of military and vintage vehicles outside.

The Tuneless Choir will perform at midday before a commemoration service at the war memorial with Rev Oliver Blease, military personnel from Lyneham’s REME division and the army reserves, and a new cry created by the town crier.

Organiser Steve Walls said: “People are more conscious of military sacrifice these days and I think it’s important to commemorate these soldiers and remember how lucky we are. Younger generations will get to see what their grandparents and great-grand parents did during the war.

“This day was the start of the liberation of Europe and we have had relative peace ever since, Royal Wootton Bassett has strong links to the military, so it should be a moving service.”

A wreath-laying ceremony will be held at the Wroughton war memorial at 11am.

Highworth residents can pay their respects at the Podium.