A POIGNANT message of hope was symbolised at a Remembrance Service in Victoria Square as schoolchildren from different cultures stood side by side to lay wreaths.

More than 1,000 men, women and children turned out to pay their respects for the country's war dead -- and this year, to remember those in America who suffered in the atrocities of September 11.

And in Bury the Bishop of Bolton, the Rt Rev David Gillett used the opportunity to call for an end to the war in Afghanistan.

The bishop stressed that those responsible for the September 11 atrocities must be brought to justice.

He said: "I believe there are circumstances in which war is a necessary evil. But the bombing of innocent people in one of the poorest countries in the world is unjust."

The bishop, who was preaching in St Thomas's Church, Bury, remembered those who suffered in the Holocaust during the Second World War.

"It is a dreadful example of what humanity at its worst can do," he said. The bishop also called for justice for Palestinian people.

"Remembrance Sunday embraces all those who are victims of unjust oppression," he added. "It is a call for us as Christians to unite with our Muslim and Jewish neighbours, to work together for peace in our local communities and throughout the world.

"Such common action should flow from our shared belief in the one God who created us all."

Khaled Kaloo, aged 15, of Deane School, Bolton, who laid a wreath at the war memorial alongside Kirsty Byron, aged 11, of Brandwood Primary School, said he had one hope -- world peace.

After laying a wreath on behalf of all the schoolchildren in the borough, he said: "We should all be able to live together in harmony and in peace. It was an honour to be chosen and I think the remembrance service is extremely important.

"What happened in America was terrible and I do not want to see a war. I would love to see world peace and tolerance of all races and religions. It was a very nice experience to be here and it was very important, I will always remember it."

Maroons were fired in Victoria Square during the service in Bolton, conducted by the Vicar of Bolton Canon Michael Williams, and in the two minutes silence that followed, people stood with their heads bowed.

The Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Kevan Helsby, was the first to lay a wreath at the war memorial, followed by representatives of organisations and individuals from throughout the borough.

Helen Wilding, aged 17, of Canon Slade School, Bolton sang an unaccompanied song of peace, entitled "Love Can Build a Bridge".

Helen said: "Because of the present political climate, I think it is very important that children realise that the suffering people went through a long time ago is similar to what many people are suffering today.

"I think everybody should be able to tolerate each other's differences. It was a real honour to sing a song of peace to so many people and I really enjoyed it."

President of the Combined Ex-Services Association and The Normandy Veterans, Ken MacIvor, commented on the amount of young people who attended the service.

He said: "Today's service was the best attendance I have seen for a long time."

The mayor said afterwards: "It is a great honour and privilege to lay the first wreath. The ceremony was very well attended by the public and I think all the children did very well representing the schools.

"Everybody played their part and showed their respect. I think it is good to involve children because it keeps the remembrance going. I hope we can continue keeping children involved."