D-Day commemorations will take place in Devon and Cornwall

Events in Devon and Cornwall will take place later to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

On June 6, 1944, the world’s largest sea and air invasion helped turn the tide of World War II as the Allies battled Nazi Germany.

Commemorative events such as memorial services and the lighting of lighthouses will take place in several locations, including Plymouth, Falmouth and the Isles of Scilly.

George Cooper, a lighthouse engineer who will light a beacon at Peninnis Lighthouse in St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, said it was important to “commemorate the important achievements of the D-Day landings”.

Trinity House, the country’s official lighthouse authority, said it would light a series of lighthouses to mark the day.

Mr Cooper said: “I thought it would be a good idea to put one out in the Isles of Scilly just to include it in the celebration, being the most south-westerly lighthouse on land.”

He added: “We will collectively remember all that we sacrificed during the D-Day landings of all nationalities and all armed forces.”

The Peninnis Lighthouse will join other lighthouses around the country in being illuminated at 21:15 BST.

On the border between Devon and Cornwall, a memorial service will be held at Saltash Pass on Thursday from 10.30am BST.

It is where, on June 6, 1944, approximately 36,000 soldiers from the V and VII Corps departed for Omaha and Utah Beaches.

The event is organized by the Federation of Ex-Service Associations – a group that supports veterans and service-related organisations.

A beacon will be lit at 21:15 BST on Thursday evening at the Royal Citadel in Plymouth.

In November 1943, the US Navy established an advanced amphibious base in Plymouth, and in January 1944, a temporary camp for about 2,000 men opened on Vicarage Road as a training camp in preparation for the Normandy landings.

It remained operational until August 1945.

In Cornwall, a wreath-laying service will be held in Falmouth’s Kimberley Park at 11am BST.

A flotilla event featuring 80 boats is due to take place in the afternoon.

The flotilla will depart from adjacent Tolverne, north of the King Harry Ferry at 3pm and travel along the Carrick Roads Canal and end near Gyllyngvase Beach.