TWO former enemies stood side by side as they laid a wreath to remember soldiers who have lost their lives in war.

Falklands veterans Les Standish and Argentinian Alejandro Vidlea made the touching and unusual gesture at Bolton's Remembrance Day service in Victoria Square on Sunday. The men embraced after laying the poppies.

Mr Standish, a father-of-four from Belmont, was a 21-year-old lance corporal in the parachute regiment when he first met Mr Vidlea more than 20 years ago. Mr Vidlea was one of 1,500 prisoners of war being shipped back to Argentina under Mr Standish's control. They were invited to Bolton town centre to lay a wreath at the memorial after getting in touch via an Internet website designed to unite British and Argentinian war veterans.

They had initially thought of taking part in the service at the Cenotaph in London, but feared some veterans would still harbour bitter feelings towards the Argentinians.

Mr Standish said: "The service brought back the memories of what we went through together. The embrace was a spur of the moment thing. It just happened. There was no resentment.

"The service was a very hard thing to do but we are both glad we did it. Everybody has been great with him. They have shaken his hand.

"He was overcome with emotion and could not believe that so many people in this country honour their war dead." Father-of-two Mr Vidlea, aged 40, is the first Falklands veteran from the South American country to visit Bolton since the war two decades ago. Both friends are working to help war veterans come to terms with the conflict.

Mr Vidlea was captured at Goose Green just 10 days before the ceasefire. He was due to visit Thornleigh Salesian College today to speak to pupils about the war, and returns to Argentina on Wednesday.

The Armistice Day two minutes silence took place at 11am today at Victoria Square, when the Mayor, Cllr John Walsh, and shoppers stood still in remembrance of people who died in conflict.