TOWNS and villages across the district are set fall silent as the nation honours its fallen war heroes on the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Remembrance Day services across the land will pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Bagpipers Mike Simmons and Andrew MacGregor have already taken part in Battle’s Over – an international commemoration marking 100 years since the guns fell silent.

Mr Simmons played in Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens, while Mr MacGregor performed at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in the town.

They played Battle’s O’er – a traditional Scottish tune played after a battle – at 6am.

A lone piper also performed at Witham war memorial earlier this morning, starting more than 12 hours of commemorations in the town.

A service will take place at St Nicolas Church at 10am, followed by an Act of Remembrance at the war memorial at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

A parade leaves The Avenue at 2.30pm before a remembrance service at the war memorial at 3pm.

That is followed by a second service at St Nicolas' Church before a ceremony on the River Walk at 6pm and the lighting of a beacon at 7pm.

The Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Essex, High Sheriff of Essex and other dignitaries will attend the remembrance parade and service at the war memorial in Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens at 2pm.

A civic service will be held in Coggeshall at St Peter Ad Vincula Church at 10.30am. The church will also have poetry and music commemorate the end of the First World War from 5.15pm

In Rayne Kier Johnson - a member of the College of Pipers will play Battle’s O'er at 6.15am.

A new memorial stone was unveiled on the village green on Saturday. The one-tonne stone was taken from a quarry near Rayne’s twin town of Verberie in northern France, close to where the Armistice treaty was signed 100 years ago.

Villagers have already researched the 33 soldiers who gave their lives in the First World and the Old School Room, in Shalford Road, will host an exhibition about the war.

A sea of 1,567 knitted poppies - one for each day of the Great War - has been draped over Messing's war memorial.

A special service for the village's primary schoolchildren takes place on Monday at All Saints’ Church, which also has an arch poppies over the door.