RESIDENTS in Dorset are being urged to remember the sacrifices of servicemen and women by standing on their doorsteps for a two-minute silence this Remembrance Day.

Remembrance Day events have been scaled back significantly this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

An annual seafront parade of veterans and military vehicles in Weymouth, which annually attracts thousand of spectators, has been scrapped and replaced with a small service at Nothe Fort.

Dorset Council says that only a handful of people will be allowed to attend its own service at County Hall. The service will take place from 10.45am on Wednesday 11 November and will be a short, socially distanced event with a maximum of eight wreaths being laid.

Both events will be live-streamed via Facebook.

However, council bosses are urging residents to pay tribute to our armed forces on their own doorsteps.

A spokesperson said: “In normal times, we would be paying tribute to our armed forces at the Cenotaph or at public services on Remembrance Sunday.

“The pandemic has affected many events this year, however we can still mark the occasion from the safety of our homes.

“With on-going restrictions and public health measures in place, we encourage you to ‘remember on your doorstep’ this year and pay your respects by standing on your doorstep at 11am on Remembrance Sunday to mark the two-minute silence.”