Sussex residents paused to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day as parades were held and beacons were lit in memory of those who died in the operation.

Events in Horsham, Haywards Heath, Brighton and across the county marked the Second World War operation which saw hundreds of troops from the county deployed to the beaches of Normandy in 1944.

Thousands of people stopped on Thursday to mark the anniversary as D-Day veterans and military personnel joined events remembering the day.

Poppies on display in Haywards HeathPoppies on display in Haywards Heath (Image: Haywards Heath Town Council)

In Horsham, beacons were lit by the council to remember D-Day. Prayers and speeches were also heard while The Spinettes also sung wartime songs in the town’s bandstand.

Other council events included a number of poppies made out of recycled plastic bottles which were put on display in Muster Green, Haywards Heath.

In East Wittering hundreds of people, including former Chichester MP and current parliamentary candidate Gillian Keegan, came together to mark the landings in what will be one of the final milestone years in living memory for those who fought.

The event was also marked with a Spitfire fly past as well as reading out the names of those who died in the landings in the area.

D-Day events in East WitteringD-Day events in East Wittering (Image: Women's Institute)

Elsewhere in the county cadets from Brighton and Hove paraded along the seafront towards the Hove Beacon.

Worthing Town Hall joined a borough-wide bell ringing accompanied by St Andrew's in Tarring, St Botolph's in Heene, St Mary's in Broadwater, St Mary's in Goring and All Saints Findon Valley to mark the occasion.

Thursday marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day where thousands of British, American and allied soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy in 1944.

The landings marked the beginning of Allied advances into France towards the end of the Second World War.

Sussex played a vital supporting role in the landings.