THEY say the sun shines on the righteous. And on Sunday it did.

Yet, on June 6, 1944, the weather conditions were far from kind. High winds stirred up massive waves that threatened to swamp the small landing craft filled with young boy soldiers as they headed across the churning English Channel.

Sea-sickness was the first enemy to be overcome by the youngsters as they slowly inched their way through mist, rain and sea-spray toward the French coastline.

Ironically, in 1944 it was the weather which prompted Hitler's commanders' to believe that the Allied armies in the Second World War would never attempt an invasion of 'Fortress Europe' in such atrocious conditions.

On Sunday, 60 years on, the summer sun blazed down on those brave men and women who survived D-Day and helped rid Europe -- and the world -- of Adolf Hitler and his evil Nazi party.

While medals were being presented across the Channel to those lucky enough to attend the VIP commemorations in France, many veterans of the Normandy Landings were content to remain home in Blighty and mark the historic day in a variety of ways.

In Radcliffe, a handful of D-Day veterans, looking proud and resplendent in their regimental berets and medals, were guests of honour at a parade organised by the local branch of the Royal British Legion.

At 9.50am, the parade, including youngsters from the Radcliffe detachment of the Army Cadet Force, Scout leaders and police, marched from the British Legion headquarters in Water Street to the cenotaph in Blackburn Street.

A short Service of Remembrance was followed by a lone bugler playing the Last Post and the laying of wreaths as the gathering paid tribute to those who "shall not grow old".

Mr Barry Blease, chairman of the Radcliffe British Legion, said: "The parade was our chance to pay tribute to the thousands upon thousands of men who died on the beaches of Normandy.

"It was also to say thank-you to those who survived such horrendous hardship so many years ago and fought to bring peace to Europe. It was a marvellous day."