MAYOR of Dawlish, Cllr Lisa Mayne, was emotional when the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine was remembered.

The town, which is still home to about 40 refugees, marked the event with a ceremony and raising the Ukrainian flag at the Piazza. 

Cllr Mayne said: ‘It was very, very emotional with lots of people clearly missing loved ones.

‘The Ukrainian people are quite religious.

‘We couldn’t let this day go by without marking the occasion.

‘It is unbelievable it has gone on for a year but we in Dawlish have opened our hearts to people from Ukraine and a lot have stayed here.

‘They have settled so well and people in Dawlish have opened their homes to them.’

A bilingual poem, written by a Ukrainian priest, was read in Ukrainian and English at the service which was led by Rev Chris Curd. 

The event saw the playing of the Ukrainian national anthem and traditional Ukrainian songs sung. 

Throughout today, the Ukrainian flag was flown at the town council offices at the Manor House.