CEREMONIES are taking place across Britain and France today to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

The Allied invasion of Normandy took place on June 6, 1944.

The Hexham Courant reported the story at the time under the headline "Army of liberation crosses channel," proclaiming "The Invasion of Europe from the West had begun."

The operation was the largest combined air, land, and naval operation in history. 156,000 British, American and Canadian troops landed on Normandy's beaches, and thousands of lives were lost.

By the end of D-Day, the Allies had established a foothold in France. Just 11 months later, Germany was defeated and the war was over.