OLD and young across the area came together in silence to remember our war heroes.

At memorials and in schools and workplaces, people observed a two minute silence at 11am yesterday as Remembrance services were held in and around York.

Former servicemen and members of the Royal British Legion gathered at the memorial in Station Rise in York to lay wreaths and pay tribute to war victims.

At New Earswick Primary School, in York, more than 200 pupils, staff and members of the local community met in the school hall bathed in the glow of an original First World War trench lamp.

Head teacher Carole Farrar said: "It was a very moving service for children and adults alike."

At St Lawrence's Primary School, York, head teacher David Thewlis said youngsters there had been learning about Remembrance Day all week in assemblies.

The school flag was lowered from a flagpole and replaced by a Union Flag before the 250 pupils gathered with staff to observe the two minutes' silence.

In North Yorkshire, youngsters at Cundall Manor private school, between Ripon and Thirsk, marked the event with a Second World War re-enactment.

In Selby, youngsters and civic leaders gathered at the town's cemetery to pay their respects.

Meanwhile, the Royal British Legion marked Armistice Day by producing the first comprehensive survey of the country's 10.5 million military veterans and their dependants.

The survey discovered that almost half - 3.88 million - are surviving on less than £10,000 a year and almost one million have to exist on less than half that amount.

The military charity canvassed 6,218 people, drawn from the ex-service community, the charity's beneficiaries and case workers, to make the first accurate estimate of the size, personal circumstances and welfare needs of the UK's veterans.

Special services are also being held at war memorials and churches all over Britain tomorrow. In York, the annual procession is starting from the Eye of York at 10.30am, where personnel from the armed forces are being joined by veterans, representatives from the Sea Cadets, Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps, St John Ambulance, British Red Cross and Scouts and Guides.

The parade passes through Tower Street, Coney Street, Lendal and across Lendal Bridge into Leeman Road and the Memorial Gardens, led by the King's Division Waterloo Band.

Wreaths will be laid by councillors and veterans organisations.

Members of the Korean Veterans Association York Branch will gather to remember fallen comrades in the Memorial Gardens, Leeman Road, after the 11am service on Sunday.

The Fulford branch of the Royal British Legion is holding a Remembrance Service tomorrow at St Oswald's Church at 10.30am followed by refreshments.

Updated: 11:07 Saturday, November 12, 2005