RESIDENTS and businesses in Halton are being encouraged to turn out their lights for an hour on  August 4 to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

Halton Council is urging everyone to support the national Lights Out event to highlight the start of the Great War.

At 11pm on August 4, 1914 Britain declared war on Germany and as the moment approached, the British Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey made the famous remark: “The lamps are going out all over Europe,  we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.”

This has inspired Lights Out and the Royal British Legion to call on groups, organisations and individuals to turn off their lights from 10pm to 11pm on August 4, leaving on a single light for this shared moment of reflection.

Halton Council is supporting the campaign by leaving one spotlight in a window of Kingsway Learning Centre and Runcorn Town Hall, four single spotlights on the seventh floor in the Municipal Building, a bank of lights at the Select Security Stadium, and The Brindley tower light will be lit.

Halton Council leader, Clr Rob Polhill,  said: "As well as switching off the lights at our main buildings we are also encouraging other organisations and local people throughout Halton to do the same.

“Lights Out will be a poignant reminder of what happened 100 years ago and those people who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.”

Iconic buildings such as Blackpool Illuminations, the Houses of Parliament, Eden Project, the Imperial War Museums and Tower Bridge will turn off their lights.

For further details on how you can take part, visit 1418now.org.uk/lights-out/how-to-create-your-moment/