Men who lost their lives during the Battle of the Somme were honoured with a candlelit vigil and moving ceremony.

Members of the Macclesfield and Bollington Royal British Legion were joined by ex-servicemen and members of the public at Bollington War Memorial on Friday, July 1 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the infamous battle in the First World War.

Allan Williams, Mayor of Bollington and chairman of Macclesfield RBL, officiated proceedings by the sounding of a trench whistle three times at the start of the ceremony to symbolise the signal given at the Somme for the men to leave their trenches and go over the top.

Parade marshal Derek Sutton recited the exoneration before a bugler played the Last Post, followed by a period of silence and a blessing from the Rev Veronica Hydon.

Hours earlier, at midnight, a number of people attended the memorial to light candles to remember soldiers gathering on the eve of the battle.

The Battle of the Somme lasted 141 days and claimed the lives of 420,000 British soldiers, including at least 55 from Macclesfield and dozens of others from the surrounding towns and villages. Peter Lake, from Macclesfield RBL, said: “The battle of the Somme was horrific and one of the bloodiest days in the history of the British Army.

“As a nation it is important that we do not forget the sacrifice made by all those that fought in the Great War.”

Meanwhile, Macclesfield actors took part in the We Are Here commemoration which happened in public spaces across the country. Cameron Chandler and Nigel Stephen, members of MADS Theatre, were among 1,500 volunteers who took part in the ‘living memorial’ to Somme soldiers.

The ‘ghosts’ silently handed out cards to commuters and passers-by – each carrying the name of a soldier who died 100 years ago.

Cameron, 32, of Townley Street, who handed out the cards in Manchester, said: “It was a very different experience to being on stage. It was an amazing day. The reaction from the public was more than I expected. It was very emotional for everyone.”

Images and videos of actors – some walking, some sitting and waiting, all silent apart from the occasional burst of song – emerged on social media with the hashtag wearehere, but it wasn’t until later in the day that it was revealed that the performance was orchestrated by National Theatre head Rufus Norris and artist Jeremy Deller.

Members of MADS theatre group in Macclesfield took part in the #wearehere tribute to the Somme Battle. Pictured is Cameron Chandler