It was a daring operation which led to the liberation of western Europe from the Nazis.

Now, 80 years on, the commemoration of the D-Day landings in Normandy has started in Great Yarmouth.

Pageantmaster Bruno Peek and borough mayor Penny Carpenter lit the first Lamplight of Peace at Great Yarmouth Minster on Monday, before the tribute follows the same route taken by Allied forces to the five invasion beaches on the French coast.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Bruno Peek by the Lamplight of Peace.Bruno Peek by the Lamplight of Peace. (Image: James Weeds)Mr Peek said: "This responsibility is very personal for me. I have been working with D-Day remembrances for the past two years and to get the whole country involved is essential.

"I really wanted to have the first Lamplight of Peace lit in the Minster. It is the largest church in England and was dreadfully bombed. It too serves as a beacon of hope as we move forward from some of the horrors of history."

The lamp will now be taken to the headquarters of the veterans charity Walking with the Wounded before crossing the English Channel on June 6 where it will pass its flame of remembrance and peace to other lamps on the beaches of Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The Lamplight was used in the First World War as is adorned with British and German barbed wire recovered from the trenches. Its plinth contains the Victoria Cross medal and coal in tribute to the miners who tunnelled. The Lamplight was used in the First World War as is adorned with British and German barbed wire recovered from the trenches. Its plinth contains the Victoria Cross medal and coal in tribute to the miners who tunnelled. (Image: James Weeds)On the day, some 800 beacons and hundreds of lamplights will be lit across the coastline of the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and overseas territories. Mr Peek will light the day's principal beacon from a Portsmouth naval base.

"It is very important to start the day in Portsmouth as it was the starting place for the landings, where so many lives were sacrificed," Mr Peek added.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Rev Canon Simon Ward (centre) blessing the lamp.Rev Canon Simon Ward (centre) blessing the lamp. (Image: James Weeds)At the Minster ceremony, borough mayor Penny Carpenter assisted with the lighting of the lamp, in what will be her final official engagement as mayor.

"It has been such an honour to have been part of this," she said.

"And it's a very personal day for me as I remember my dad who fought in South Africa during the war."

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Great Yarmouth borough mayor Penny Carpenter by the Lamplight of Peace.Great Yarmouth borough mayor Penny Carpenter by the Lamplight of Peace. (Image: James Weeds)Rev Canon Simon Ward blessed the Lamplight of Peace at the ceremony before it began its journey to Normandy.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Great Yarmouth Minster.Great Yarmouth Minster. (Image: James Weeds)