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MORE than 10,000 flames have lit up the moat around the Tower of London in an awe-inspiring tribute to the fallen heroes of the First World War.

A ceremonial Beefeater guard kicked off the lighting spectacle by bringing a flame down from the tower into the moat, which had been submerged in smoke.

The astonishing spectacle at the Tower of London commemorates the Armistice agreement which ended the First World War
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The astonishing spectacle at the Tower of London commemorates the Armistice agreement which ended the First World WarCredit: AFP or licensors

Dozens of representatives from the armed forces and volunteers then used the flame to ignite thousands of other torches staked into the ground underneath the tower, bathing the barren moat in light.

Midshipman Balraj Dhanda of the Royal Navy, a volunteer who helped light the flames, described the spectacle as "really, really powerful".

He added: "I think it creates the right atmosphere for people to have their own personal reflections and gives people time with their own thoughts."

It took around 45 minutes to light the flames, which then burn for roughly four hours.

A Beefeater solemnly stands amid the torches in the darkness by the ancient stone walls
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A Beefeater solemnly stands amid the torches in the darkness by the ancient stone wallsCredit: AFP or licensors
Lit torches filled the moat around the Tower of London
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Lit torches filled the moat around the Tower of LondonCredit: Reuters
Beefeaters began the ceremony by bringing a flame out of the Tower to light the torches
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Beefeaters began the ceremony by bringing a flame out of the Tower to light the torchesCredit: London News Pictures
Dusk falling over the Tower of London ahead of the ceremony on Sunday night
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Dusk falling over the Tower of London ahead of the ceremony on Sunday night
The display is free to visit for members of the public
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The display is free to visit for members of the public

The ceremony was accompanied by a specially commissioned sound installation featuring choral music, as well as words from war poet Mary Borden's Sonnets To A Soldier.

The ceremony was "amazing", according to Dick Harrold, governor of the Tower of London.

He said: "What is so special about it is it means many different things.

"The message with the sound is not focused so much on those that were lost, but those that were left behind, the bereaved and others who were affected by war."

The new exhibition echoes the display of 888,246 poppies that flooded the moat in 2014
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The new exhibition echoes the display of 888,246 poppies that flooded the moat in 2014Credit: Rex Features
Queen Elizabeth II visited the moving display four years ago
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Queen Elizabeth II visited the moving display four years agoCredit: Associated Press
Beefeaters also played a significant role in the ceremony - called 'Blood Swept Sands and Seas of Red'
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Beefeaters also played a significant role in the ceremony - called 'Blood Swept Sands and Seas of Red'Credit: Press Association
The torches will be lit every night until Remembrance Sunday
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The torches will be lit every night until Remembrance Sunday
Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters, will start the lighting each evening between 5pm and 9pm
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Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters, will start the lighting each evening between 5pm and 9pmCredit: AFP or licensors
A choral sound installation accompanies the beautiful visual array
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A choral sound installation accompanies the beautiful visual arrayCredit: Reuters
Volunteers - many of whom have family connections to the First World War - lighting torches
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Volunteers - many of whom have family connections to the First World War - lighting torches
The breathtaking display runs all the way around the Tower of London
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The breathtaking display runs all the way around the Tower of LondonCredit: Getty Images - Getty

The success of the 2014 display of poppies at the tower meant Historic Royal Palaces, who maintain the landmark, were keen to mark the centenary of Armistice.

Harrold added: "But, of course, we couldn't do poppies again."

Spectators gathered on vantage points around the tower to witness the spectacle.

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A minute's silence was also observed.

The ceremony, named Beyond The Deepening Shadow, will be repeated each night until the final showing on Remembrance Sunday.

Members of the public can watch the spectacle for free.

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