The 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings has been marked in Bristol, nationally, and across Europe.

At the Mansion House in Clifton Down, Lord Mayor Chris Davies raised a flag to commemorate the anniversary of the landings on Normandy's beaches in 1944.

He was joined by Major Norman Ricketts, of Clifton, who was involved with "Operation Overlord" - the code name given to the first part of the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe.

Major Ricketts, 87, was 22 at the time of the landings.

Mr Davies said: "We felt it was important to make the day in some way. Most of the local veterans are in France at the moment for the commemorations there, but I knew that Major Ricketts was around because he lives across the road from the Mansion House.

"The day is important to me because both my parents fought in the war, and my father took part in D-Day itself.

"My wife and I were both born that year, a few months after the landings in June. I have also worked with many veterans of the war who have told me stories about that day.

"Without them, and their sacrifice, where would we be now? These people saved our country."

Further afield, US President Barack Obama praised the British Blitz spirit as thousands of veterans, servicemen and their families gathered in Normandy.

He joined Gordon Brown, the Prince of Wales and French leader Nicolas Sarkozy at the American Cemetery above Omaha beach in Colleville-sur-Mer.

The service, set amidst the graves of 9,387 US servicemen, was one of scores taking place in the region to mark D-Day and the Normandy campaign which followed.

At Bayeux Cemetery, hundreds of Normandy veterans were applauded as they took part in a parade and service amongst the graves of fallen British soldiers.

Prince Charles met veterans and cadets who cheered and clapped him as he walked around the cemetery.

*The Evening Post marked the anniversary with a series of special reports from feature writer David Clensy, who travelled to Normandy with two veterans.