The 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster, which claimed the lives of 167 people, has been remembered at a ceremony.

The North Sea platform was engulfed in a ball of flames after a gas leak ignited on July 6, 1988.

Hundreds of people today attended a commemoration service in Aberdeen in memory of those who died.

They were joined by politicians, senior figures from the UK oil and gas industry and representatives from the Pound for Piper Trust.

The service, at the North Sea Memorial in Aberdeen's Hazlehead Park, began with the flypast of a Sea King search and rescue helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth. It was the first aircraft to arrive at the scene of the disaster.

A roll call of those who perished in the disaster was also read out by the Rev Gordon Craig, chaplain to the UK oil and gas industry, and representatives of the offshore workforce.

A lament played by a lone piper marked the start of a minute's silence for people to pay their respects to the men who lost their lives and all those who have been affected by the tragedy.

Floral tributes were also laid at the garden's central memorial statue, industry officials confirmed.

A spokesman for Oil & Gas UK said more than 400 people attended today's ceremony, which also marked the completion of the refurbishment of the North Sea Memorial Garden.

Among those in attendance were relatives, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives, as well as some survivors of the disaster, which was the world's worst offshore oil and gas tragedy. Scottish Secretary Michael Moore and First Minister Alex Salmond and also took part in today's event.

Mr Salmond said: "Twenty-five years on from the tragedy of Piper Alpha no Scot who is old enough will ever forget hearing the news and seeing the horrifying images from that night in July 1998.

"The remembrance and rededication service held today in Aberdeen was a deeply moving tribute to the 167 people who were lost that night in what remains the world's worst offshore disaster.

"Twenty-five years on our first obligation to the men who died in the Piper Alpha tragedy remains ensuring a disaster like this is never allowed to happen again.

"Safety in the oil and gas industry has improved massively since the recommendations made in the Cullen report, but we owe it to the memory of those who were lost to continue to make safety absolutely the first priority for workers offshore."

Mr Moore said earlier: "It is important that we never forget those who have lost their lives in our oil and gas industry. 25 years on from Piper Alpha, the loss of 167 lives is something that families and communities across the whole country are still coming to terms with.

"Since the tragedy, we have been learning the lessons to make sure this never happens again."

Shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran said: "Today we remember those who lost their lives on Piper Alpha 25 years ago and we stand with their loved ones who still live with the events of that night.

"What happened on Piper Alpha on 6th July 1988 left an indelible mark on Aberdeen, but this is an important day of remembrance and reflection for all of Scotland and for many communities in other parts of the UK, where families still mourn fathers, sons and brothers who went to work in the North Sea and did not return.

"One hundred and sixty seven people lost their lives as a result of the explosions on board the platform. It is one of the worst accidents of its kind in recent memory.

"The inquiry that followed recommended action that overhauled health and safety in the UK oil and gas industry, but 25 years on we have to remember Piper Alpha and continue to ensure the highest safety standards in the North Sea. That's how to protect the people who work there today and how to honour the men who died."

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, survivor Roy Carey, 70, from Ayrshire, said the service would give him a chance to reflect on what happened and feel "a little closer to the lads that never made it".

Ian Reid, 67, from Blackburn in West Lothian, lost his brother Donald, 44, who was an engineer on Piper Alpha. Mr Reid will visit the memorial but did not plan to attend the service.

Since Donald's funeral in 1988 Mr Reid has only been to Aberdeen once, for the 20th anniversary service which he found overwhelming.

This week he returned to see his 21-year-old granddaughter Emma graduate from the University of Aberdeen.

"I know it's a big anniversary but every day is an anniversary to me. I've thought about him every day since that day happened. I've missed him," he said.