A Pembrokeshire coastal village - instrumental in the rehearsals for the D Day landings - will mark the 80th anniversary with a string of remembrance events on the day.

Amroth is commemorating the historic D Day events with a beacon lighting ceremony on Thursday, June 6.

A year prior to the D-Day landings, Amroth, and surrounding beaches, was used for a logistics learning and preparation practice.

This rehearsal was known as Exercise Jantzen, and helped the D-Day landings be a huge success.

The area was placed under military control, a curfew and residents’ IDs put in place. The beach contained coasters, landing craft and amphibious vehicles.

Residents were banned from the beaches during the exercise, and police enforced a curfew.

Several roadways were bulldozed through the natural bank of pebbles which lined Amroth beach. This weakened local sea defences, and eventually the Government helped to fund sea walls and groynes.

An abandoned landing craft was visible on Amroth beach for years, until it settled below the sand.

The Allies learnt a great deal from Exercise Jantzen, including many of the shortcomings of unloading equipment from beached ships and barges.

The failings may have proved to the military authorities that the most efficient way of unloading troops and equipment at a secured beachhead was to build an artificial harbour.

Ultimately, this is what happened at Normandy with the building of Port Winston at Arromanches.

According to local folklore, Prime Minister Winston Churchill was one of the interested spectators who witnessed Exercise Jantzen and he drank tea at a hostelry in Wiseman’s Bridge where the beach was also used for the exercise.

On the day of the anniversary, at 7.25am there will be the raising the Flag of Peace at Amroth’s flagpole, and a reading of the Proclamation.

In the evening at the seaside village, at 6.30pm the Amroth Church Bell will sound with a ‘Ring Out For Peace’; before an International Tribute is read out at 9pm; and then the lighting of the beacon at 9.15pm.

In thanks of all the small fishing boats that helped in this mission, June 6 is also National Fish and Chips Day. Please support local eateries who will be serving D-Day fish specials throughout the occasion.

Everyone is welcome to join in and remember the historic event, the bravery and sacrifice of the military troops and give thanks for the freedom we enjoy today.