REMEMBRANCE Day services have taken place across the New Forest.

Pupils from three schools gathered at St Mark's Church, Pennington, to honour the memory of people who have died fighting for their country.

The service was conducted by the Priest in Charge, the Rev Rachel Noël.

She said: "In recent times we have had to mark events separately in each school or bubble due to Covid.

"This year we were able to gather again with children and staff from three schools at our memorial in Pennington churchyard.

"Children at Pennington Infants School, Pennington Church of England Junior School and at Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School have all been learning about Remembrance.

"Children have made poppies from recycled bottles and other materials, poppies and wreaths were gathered and laid at the memorial.

"We shared silence, remembering all those who lost their lives in conflicts, and we thought about the choices each of us can make to strive for peace in our families, our schools, our neighbourhood.

"We are proud to be a part of the community of Pennington."

One of the other services in the district took place at Lymington New Forest Hospital, run by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.

A Southern Health spokesperson said: "A small, socially-distanced service was held in the main atrium at the hospital.

"Whilst the service was unfortunately restricted in numbers due to Covid-19 it was live-streamed on our internal staff channel for colleagues to pay their respects virtually."

A wreath-laying ceremony took place at the Lyndhurst headquarters of New Forest District Council.

It included a wreath laying by the chairman of the council, Cllr Derek Tipp, the leader of the council, Cllr Edward Heron, and a representative from Marchwood-based 17 Port and Maritime Regiment.

The commemoration culminated in a two-minute silence at 11am to remember all those who made sacrifices during conflict.

At the same time, the council's nominated Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Andrew Gossage, attended a ceremony at the war memorial at Bolton’s Bench, Lyndhurst.

Organised by Royal British Legion, the event marked the memorial's 100th anniversary.