Moving scenes in the Channel today as a flotilla of small ships sails from Ramsgate to Dunkerque, marking the 70th anniversary of the World War II evacuation from Northern France.

Moving scenes in the Channel today as a flotilla of small ships sails from Ramsgate to Dunkerque, marking the 70th anniversary of the World War II evacuation from Northern France.

Celebrations to commemorate the Dunkerque evacuation, code-named Operation Dynamo, started in earnest today as a host of pleasure, passenger and fishing boats left Kent to re-enact the events of 70 years ago. Britain called then on any possible vessel to help save Allied troops trapped on French shores by advancing Nazi forces and some 338,000 troops - both British and French - were rescued from the French beaches  between 27 May and 4 June 1940.

Former troops saved in the exercise are taking part in the flotilla and in a series of events to be held in Dunkerque during the next few days. Saturday sees a commemorative ceremony on the beach with the participation of the town's mayor and schoolchildren and on Sunday there will be a street naming ceremony in the town, to include the "Rue des Little Ships" and "Rue de la Bataille de Dunkerque and de l'Operation Dynamo". The town's museum has also staged a special exhibition.