Thousands remembered in Somme centenary

A unique new war memorial has been unveiled at Cranleigh School in Surrey.

The three-metre high statue, made of bronze and Bath stone, was made by sculptor and former pupil, Nicholas Dimbleby - brother to broadcasters David and Jonathan.

Entitled Leaving, the sculpture is surrounded by sweeping glass panels engraved with the names of former pupils who have died in battle during the school’s history.

Emma Wilkinson has been to have a look:

A hundred years ago today marked the first day of the infamous Battle of the Somme.

More than a million people were wounded or killed in the World War One battle, which lasted until November 1916.

ITV Meridian will be a showing special episode commemorating the centenary of the Battle of the Somme tonight at 6pm. Watch footage of the battlefields taken from the skies in the video below:

An early morning memorial has taken place on the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme.

Thousands of people paid their respects to the million soldiers who died throughout the 5 month battle. More than 20,000 British troops died on the first day alone, including thousands from across the South.

Below are pictures from the service at Lochnagar, the site of a 300ft crater caused by an Allied explosion.

The nation has fallen silent to honour the thousands of soldiers who died in the Battle of the Somme 100 years ago.

The battle was the bloodiest day in British military history, with 60,000 soldiers killed on the first day alone.

Ceremonies were held across the country, with a two-minute silence ending at 7.30am - the time when British, Commonwealth and French forces went 'over the top' in northern France.

In London, people lined Parliament Square to pay tribute, with the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery manning three guns which were fired every four seconds for 100 seconds to mark the silence.

The battle lasted for 141 days.

• The Battle of the Somme: Explore our interactive timeline

Services are underway in Lochnegar to commemorate the battle of the Somme which began 100 years ago.

The area is well-known for a 300ft crater formed by an allied explosion during the battle.

Lochnagar Crater is now a peace memorial dedicated to "fellowship and reconciliation" between all nations who fought on the Western Front.

Pastor John Pressdee said: "Help us remember our common humanity, and as we celebrate the young lives who died in the pursuit of peace, help us to apply the lessons and to learn the lessons of history so that we would never have to travel that road again."