Eastleigh'S younger generation have been remembering those who laid down their lives so they could live in peace.

For the first time Eastleigh and Chandler's Ford branch of the Royal British Legion enlisted schoolchildren to take part in the traditional laying of poppy crosses at the town's war memorial.

The ceremony, which was had been in danger of being washed out by a cloudburst, marked the start of the annual Remembrance events.

Youngsters from Eastleigh's Crescent Primary School joined the ranks of Royal British Legion members including branch chairman and D-Day veteran, 77-year-old Norman Brown.

Along with legion members and deputy mayor Councillor Glynn Davies-Dear, eight representatives from the Crescent Primary planted crosses at the Leigh Road Recreation Ground's Angel of Victory memorial.

Mr Brown said it was the first time that school children had been invited to the cross-planting ceremony.

It had been so successful that it was an exercise that would be repeated involving more schools.

Mr Brown has visited schools to explain the legion's role and the significance of the Remembrance ceremonies.

He said: "It is important that this generation keeps the Remembrance period going in the years to come. It must not be forgotten."

Mr Brown, who spoke to children before the war memorial service, said he was impressed with the children's knowledge of how of they remembered those who sacrificed their lives.

The Crescent Primary's deputy head John Fleat said the pupils, aged between seven and 11, were members of the school council.

The war years have played a significant part in studies of some of the children who have focusing on Britain since 1930.

Vicar of Eastleigh the Rev Richard Davies, who is chaplain of the Legion branch, led prayers before the crosses were placed in the ground.

Etched into the Leigh Road memorial are the words To Our Glorious Dead with that immortal line "At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them."

Eastleigh's old soldiers are determined that future generations will never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice.