BOLTON'S civic leaders and war veterans have appealed for townsfolk to think of our war heroes by marking a two minutes silence on Saturday.

They hope busy shoppers will stand in tribute to the fallen for the silence at 11am on the 11th day in November - the time the Great War guns fell silent 82 years ago.

Bolton Combined Servicemen and Women's Association secretary Ellis Bailey said: "The silence is to consider the young men who gave their lives for the freedom of this country.

"People don't have to go overboard, just pay respects for two minutes for the benefits they enjoy today."

Mr Bailey will remember his own brother who died in Italy in June 1944.

But the veterans who will remember their own dead loved ones hope the new generation will continue the tradition of remembrance.

Many of Bolton's old soldiers from the Second World War are gradually dying off.

The Armistice Day on Saturday is now a national day and the two-minutes silence will be commemorated across the country.

Maroons will be fired in Victoria Square at 11am and 11.02am in line with the request of the Royal British Legion.

This ceremony will be attended by the Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Alan Wilkinson and Canon Michael Williams, the Vicar of Bolton, as well as local veterans and military organisations.

Maroons will also be fired in Blackrod, Farnworth, Horwich, Little Lever, Westhoughton, Tyldesley and Blackburn.

Remembrance Sunday will also be commemorated across the town. Remembrance Sunday events Bolton - Victoria Square. The veterans' associations and other organisations march into the square for the service to start at 10.56am.

The last post will be sounded for two minutes silence. Organisations including the cadets, scouts and guides and veterans' associations will join the Mayor Cllr Alan Wilkinson, MP David Crausby and Bolton police chief Supt Don Brown in the wreath laying ceremony. The service will be conducted by Canon Michael Williams.

Horwich - The parade will start at 11.15am from the Ex-Servicemen's Club on Emmett Street and end at Lever Park war memorial at 12.15pm where a service will be conducted.

Walkden - The parade will begin at 9.30am from the Royal British Legion Club in Wilfred Road before proceeding to St Paul's Church where there will be a service. The parade will then continue to the war memorial in Walkden Park.

Farnworth - The parade will begin at 10.40am at Hawkers Social Club in Gladstone Road, marching to Farnworth Park war memorial for 11.00am for service and wreath laying.

Adlington - Parade meets at the community centre in Railway Road at 2.00pm before marching to St Paul's Church for a service at 2.30pm. The parade will then proceed to the war memorial for a wreath laying ceremony.

Blackrod - The parade will begin at 2.15pm at Chapel Pass opposite the Legion Club on Manchester Road. Followed by a service in the parish church at 3.00pm.

Westhoughton - The parade will leave the Legion Club on Wigan Road at 9.40am and proceed to St Bartholomew's Church. The service finishes at 10.45am and will be followed by a short service at the war memorial opposite.

Tyldesley - The parade meets at 10.15am in the Market Square before proceeding to the war memorial in Hough Lane for a service and wreath laying ceremony.

Kearsley - A Poppy Concert will take place at the Legion Club in Springfield Road. Remembrance Sunday parade will march at 10.50am from the Legion Club to the War Memorial on Bolton Road for a service conducted by Rev Kevin Wainwright followed by a service at St Stephen's Church.

Hindley - The parade will meet at 2.15pm at the Legion Club on Manchester Road and will be followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial in the cemetery opposite. The parade will then proceed to the parish church for a service at 3.00pm.

Bury - A parade will begin at the town hall at 10.30am though the town centre to the parish church where wreaths will be laid at the war memorial before a service of remembrance.

Ramsbottom - The parade starts at 10.50am from the Legion Club in Central Street and ends at the war memorial, followed by a service at St Paul's Church.

Leigh - A parade will assemble in Ullswater Street before marching to the war memorial at Church Street Gardens for 10.15am, where service and wreath laying takes place.

Blackburn - A service of remembrance at Blackburn Cathedral at 9.30am will be followed by a parade to the Garden of Remembrance, Corporation Park, where service and wreath laying takes place.

Turton - Service and wreath laying will be held at Dunscar War Memorial attended by Turton Parish Council chairman Jenny Holdich with other parish councillors at 11am. Also a service is at St Anne's Church in Chapeltown at 11am and a service at St Peter's Church in Belmont at 3pm.

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Bolton Veterans' Association are holding their annual armistice dinner followed by cabaret at Halliwell Central Reform Club on Brownlow Way, Anyone can attend the cabaret, at 9pm. Details from Norman Naylor on 01204 840774.

Saturday night there will be a Remembrance Concert for the Millennium led by the Bolton Choral Union and held at The Victoria Hall in Knowsley street, Bolton. Tickets are £10, £8 and £5 and are available on the night from the box office or by ringing 01204 364333 or by contacting Booths Music on 01204 522908 or the BCU Secretary on 01204 492301. Doors open at 7.00pm.