WW1 commemorations across the Midlands

Communities across Rugby took part in the Lights Out event last night to commemorate the start of the First World War.

MP for Rugby Mark Pawsey was joined by members of the Royal British Legion and the Mayor for the ceremony at the War Memorial at Whitehall Recreation Ground.

Yesterday people across the region switched their lights off to honour those who fought for our freedom.

As a part of the commemorations people across the Midlands lit a single candle between 22.00 and 23.00 in memory of the war that had meant to end all wars.

Hundreds visited Derby's War Memorial last night to remember those that died during the First World War.

Lights were turned off across the region as part of a national ceremony to mark the hundredth anniversary of the start of the conflict.

Hundreds of people visited Birmingham Cathedral last night to remember those that died during the First World War.

Lights were turned off across the region as part of a national ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the start of the conflict.

During the first world war the weapons were powerful, destructive and designed to kill. The German Zeppelin was one that struck fear into the hearts of many.

The airships carried out several bombing raids across the UK.

Our reporter Phil Brewster has been speaking to one woman who remembers the night a Zeppelin devastated Loughborough.

The great majority of the millions of casualties in the First World War were on the frontline - from the mud of Flanders to the trenches on the Somme. But sometimes civilians lost their lives too - right here in the West Midlands.

Giant airships - or zeppelins - flew over and dropped bombs. In one such air raid 35 people were killed and many more were injured when Wednesbury, Tipton and Walsall were attacked by mistake. Keith Wilkinson reports.

When all the war trumpets sounded in Britain in August 1914, the echoes carried far and wide - to all corners of the British Empire.

By the end of the conflict, more than a million Indian soldiers had been sent overseas. Rajiv Popat reports on these often forgotten men.

When the war was finally over there was a huge rejoicing and relief, but hardly any community escaped the horrors of the war.

Britain was a nation gripped by collective grief. Out of that despair the Royal British Legion was created.

Earlier today Callum Watkinson spoke to Andrew Hodson from the organisation.