Up to a million candles lit for the darkest day

Up to a million candles illuminated the night as the nation united to mark one of its darkest days.

Homes and iconic buildings the length and breadth of the country switched off the lights last night to commemorate 100 years to the day Britain declared war.

The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley held a candlelit service to mark the centenary of the declaration of WW1.

The symbolic act, known nationally as Lights Out, was inspired by the remark of then Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey: "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime."

Attendees of the memorial service at The Black Country Living Museum light each others' candles.

Landmarks across the UK pledged their support and joined the blackout between 10pm and 11pm. These included Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Eden Project, the Imperial War Museums and Blackpool Illuminations.

Many people took to Twitter and Star Witness to send us pictures of their Great War commemorations. To see them, click here.

Westminster Abbey led the proceedings with a vigil that was broadcast live on BBC 2. During the event, candles were extinguished one by one until a single flame was snuffed out at 11pm.

Closer to home, Wolverhampton Civic Centre was a blackout, with flags on public buildings flying at half-mast.

Households across the city also took part, plunging their homes into darkness – apart from a single candle flame – for the full 60 minutes. St Michael and All Angels Church in Penkridge held a vigil in sync with proceedings in London with readings of poetry and the lighting of flames.

The procession at the Black Country Living History Museum's memorial service.

Wednesbury Library, Dudley Leisure Centre, Sandwell Library, Darlaston Town Hall, Walsall's Mayor's Office and Staffordshire County Council headquarters were just some of the civic buildings across the region also taking part.

It is believed up to one million candles were lit across the UK to remember each of the servicemen and women who gave their lives in the First World War.

The spectacle was the centrepiece of the 14-18NOW programme – a £10 million National Lottery funded project organised by the Royal British Legion and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

St Peter's Collegiate Church in Wolverhampton held its own vigil on Sunday. Wolverhampton Mayor Michael Heap said: "The First World War changed the course of history and affected every city, town and village in Britain and it is therefore hugely important that we commemorate this."

Numerous events took place over the weekend to mark the centenary. To view the images and see footage of the Hednesford parade click here.