An air raid siren will be sounded at Coventry Cathedral The 70th anniversary of the Coventry Blitz is being marked in the city.
Coventry saw one of Britain’s largest raids in World War II on 14 November, 1940. An estimated 1,200 people died with most of the city centre destroyed.
A remembrance service at Coventry Cathedral earlier was attended by dignitaries including, the German Ambassador and the Mayor of Dresden.
A civic service will be held at the cathedral later and an air-raid siren sounded within the building.
Residents were asked by the city council if they wanted the siren sounded during commemorations.
Coventry’s Lord Mayor Brian Kelsey said the views of people who had experienced the bombings first hand had been taken into account
He said: “They [sirens] will mark the beginning and end of a two-minutes’ silence at 7.15pm and will only be heard around the cathedral and not across the city.”
The Luftwaffe dropped thousands of tonnes of bombs in a bid to destroy Coventry’s industrial strength.
Bombs destroyed the ancient cathedral, hospitals, schools and the tram system.
Coventry Cathedral was rebuilt and has become recognised as a world centre for reconciliation.
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