THOUSANDS of people are expected at the UK's largest First World War commemoration service in George Square in Glasgow tomorrow.

The 10am service, which will run in tandem with a Commonwealth-themed service at the city's cathedral, is expected to attract 4000 people after free tickets were made available last month.

The Glasgow events are the first and largest commemoration the UK is staging to mark the centenary of the conflict. They will be followed by a drumhead service at Edinburgh Castle next weekend.

Prince Charles will represent the royal family at the cathedral service. Foreign dignitaries here for the Commonwealth Games will also attend. It will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in George Square.

In London, more than 800,000 ceramic poppies to commemorate each of the British and colonial soldiers who died in the war are being "planted" around the Tower of London.

The Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation, by artist Paul Cummins, will be officially unveiled on Tuesday. It is being created in the Tower's dry moat and will "grow" throughout the summer, with 8000 volunteers from across the UK planting the moat until Armistice Day on November 11.

The drumhead service at Edinburgh Castle Esplanade next Sunday will replicate services held on the frontline, which used stacks of drums draped with flags as altars.

Today, in Stonehaven, near Aberdeen, there will be a memorial service in the Square from 3pm with music from Newtonhill Pipe Band.