Heads bowed in silent respect..

Armistice Day remembrance service in the Spindles and Town Square Shopping Centre.

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OLDHAM fell silent on Friday to mark Armistice Day and pay respect to those who have given their lives for their country.

Shoppers at Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre joined the rest of the UK in observing a two minute silence at 11am, commemorating the moment the guns fell silent for peace at the end of the First World War, on November 11, 1918.

Ex-servicemen and the Mayor of Oldham were in attendance as standard bearers lowered their flags as a mark of respect.

Schools, workplaces and other public places also joined in the collective act of remembrance on Friday.

At The Radclyffe School, in Chadderton, students continued their tradition of making a display on the theme of remembrance.

Pupils shared their thoughts on why they wish to remember on Armistice Day and wrote them down on paper "hands".

The hands were then formed into wreathes for an exhibit, which also featured poppies and images of remembrance.

The sounding of the Last Post and a reading of the poem "In Flanders' Fields", written in 1915 by Canadian military doctor John McCrae, also featured in the school's act of remembrance.

Pupils in Year 8 were also given a practical lesson about the experiences of the First World War, with former history teacher Jason King presenting the story of a typical soldier on the Western Front in 1914 through his collection of historical artefacts.

Teacher of History Amanda Jacob said, "Students appreciate how important it is to learn about and remember what people went through in war.

"It is about more than studying History, giving everyone a time to remember what older generations have been through in the wars."

North Chadderton School and Oldham Academy North also marked Armistice Day with each hosting a Service of Remembrance and a visit from Chelsea Pensioner Denis Shiels,

Young children from Jelly Babies Nursery, in Failsworth, also showed that you're never to young to honour the fallen as they took part in their own act of remembrance.

The children made their own poppy from paint prints of their hands and lay their wreath at Failsworth war memorial.

On Saturday, Tesco Failsworth also held an afternoon tea to thank former servicemen with visitors including Chelsea Pensioner Denis Shiels and triple amputee Lamin Maneh.

• See more of our pictures of Remembrance Sunday on our picture sales page.