Nominations sought as ballot will decide who will attend socially-distanced Remembrance Sunday service in Leighton Buzzard

Leighton-Linslade Town Council has been working closely with the Royal British Legion and All Saints Church on plans for this year’s Remembrance Sunday commemoration.

There will be no parade this year and attendance at the short service is by invitation only and limited to under 50 places due to social distancing requirements.

A reduced number of wreath layers will participate this year, in order to make available up to 20 places for members of the Royal British Legion Leighton Buzzard branch or for Forces veterans living in Leighton Buzzard and Linslade.

To nominate yourself or someone else for a place, please call the town council on 01525 631920 or email [email protected]The closing date is October 31 and places will be drawn by random ballot.

Attendees will need to wear face coverings until in position in Church Square and will also need to participate in the NHS Track and Trace programme.

The town council says it strongly encourages Leighton Buzzard and Linslade residents to stay at home this year and to instead watch the act of Remembrance with their loved ones, in their own homes.

The short service will be live-streamed to the town council’s Facebook page (@LLTCNews) on the morning of Sunday, November 8. If you prefer to watch the national commemoration at that time, you can catch up on what happened locally by visiting the All Saints Church website from 3pm that day.

Individuals and groups who wish to visit either War Memorial to pay their respects and/or lay a wreath are very welcome to do so, but for safety reasons and to avoid unnecessary gatherings we would ask people to please avoid 11am on Sunday, November 8 or Wednesday, November 11.

A council spokesman added: "Plans are still developing and will inevitably be affected by any further changes in safety guidance between now and November 8. Please follow the town council’s media profiles or website to keep up to date."