PEOPLE across Keighley are being encouraged to pay their own doorstep tribute on Remembrance Sunday in honour of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Traditional Remembrance Sunday commemorations have been curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic – the usual parade and gathering at the war memorial in Keighley aren’t taking place.

But there is an invitation-only service at the Shared Church, which will be streamed live online.

And people are being invited to observe the two-minute silence by standing quietly on their doorsteps.

Keighley’s town chaplain, the Rev Dr Jonathan Pritchard, said: “It will be the first time our local annual service of remembrance has been live-streamed.

“Sadly, numbers in the church are limited to invitation-only because of Covid restrictions. But, as with so many other events in this strange year, we can join together online. Please join us at 10.30am on Remembrance Sunday – November 8 – for the service on the Keighley Parish Facebook page/YouTube channel.

“We can’t gather in Town Hall Square this year either. But let us be together in how we mark the two-minute silence. Can we stand in quiet respect on our doorsteps at 11am? Church bells will ring at 11am and at the closing of the silence.

“It is strange and unprecedented – not what we usually do – but we will still honour the sacrifice of those whose lives were taken so we may be safe. And we will try to keep each other safe too. May God bless you all.”

A limited-places service is also being held at St Mary’s Church, Oxenhope – at 10.45am.

Booking is essential and anyone who would like to attend should email stmarysoxenhope@gmail.com.

The Rev Cat Thatcher, from the church, is encouraging those unable to attend to observe the two-minute silence on their doorsteps at 11am.

She said: “The church clock will chime at 11am. And then at 11.02, the church bell will toll 11 more times to signal the end of the silence.

“If you are unable to attend the service but would like to pay your respects, St Mary’s will also be open between 2pm and 4pm that day for people to file past the war memorial and to view our exhibition about the men of Oxenhope who died in the first and second world wars.”

Next week, in the lead-up to Remembrance Sunday, soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment will be laying wreaths at war memorials in 28 towns across the region – including Keighley.

They are holding private, socially-distanced ceremonies at the memorials.

The tribute is being spearheaded by Darren Hunter, regimental sergeant major of the 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, from battalion headquarters in York.