Legion members and veterans are calling on the public to commemorate Remembrance Sunday however they can, despite the challenges of coronavirus.

It has been announced this week that the annual March Past The Cenotaph will not take place this year as the threat of Covid-19 still looms. A service will still take place, all be it with no public participation and people are being encouraged to take part from home.

A spokesperson for The Royal British Legion said: “Local authorities across the whole of the United Kingdom remain responsible for setting the parameters of an appropriate ceremony marking Remembrance Sunday in accordance with the Covid restrictions relevant to that location.

“RBL Branches and affiliated organisations intending to participate in this year’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations must be supportive of and fully compliant with the direction issued by their relevant Local Authority.”

A service is still set to take place in Whitehaven, a spokesperson for the town council said: “It is important to the Town Council to still mark Remembrance Day to pay respects to those who have lost their lives in conflict.”

A socially distanced wreath laying is set to take place at the War Memorial in Castle Park on Sunday, November 8 including The Last Post and a two minute’s silence.

Rev Robert Jackson will conduct prayers followed by the Reveille being played.

British Legion representatives will lay a wreath at The Cenotaph along with Mayor of Copeland Mike Starkie, the town’s mayor Brian O’Kane and MP Trudy Harrison. A service of remembrance, pre recorded by the reverend will be uploaded to the town council website including submitted clips from schools, poetry readings and interviews.

Carlisle City Council has been forced to scrap its formal Remembrance Sunday event this year, but a service in Longtown could take place with social distancing guidelines in place.

A service will be live streamed by Our Lady and St Michael’s Church in Workington on Remembrance Sunday and residents of the town are encouraged to lay their own wreaths throughout the day. Whitehaven’s Rod Eglin, veteran medic of the Iraq war and standard bearer for Westmoreland said: “It’s as important now as it has ever been. The people taking part in the ceremony are more than ever representative of everyone in the town.”

Mr Eglin asked for continued support of the Poppy Appeal.