A National Day of Reflection is being held today to remember those lost to Coronavirus.

The day is being led by Marie Curie, and is being run in conjunction with 'Light Up Wales', which has organised for the Cenotaph, Town Hall and Western Shelter to be lit yellow.

Since the first lockdown began in 2020, hundreds of thousands of people have died.

According to ONS data, 112 people in Barry have lost their lives to the virus since March 2020.

Behind the statistics and whatever the cause, every death has been devastating for the people left behind.

Barry Town Mayor Margaret Wilkinson said: "Today marks the anniversary of the first national lockdown. To recognise this milestone the nation is coming together for a National Day of Reflection.

"The past 12 months have been one of the most challenging and difficult twelve months and has touched all of our lives.

"However there are early signs of the pandemic being past its peak and hope for a return to more normal and brighter times ahead.

"Tragically and so sadly, 126,000 people have died across the UK during the pandemic. We will be joining the nation to observe a minutes silence at 12 noon as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives to COVID-19."

A memorial orchard of cherry, plum and apple trees is being planted at Porthkerry Country Park, where a memorial bench has also been installed, for people to visit and reflect on the pandemic.

Donations of trees will also be made to town and community councils in the Vale when the planting season resumes in the autumn.

Cllr Neil Moore, Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: "The last 12 months have seen the world change in ways we could never have envisaged as Covid-19 wreaked havoc across the globe.

"At the start of 2020, none of us could have imagined what lay in store and how profoundly our lives were about to be effected.

"All of us have been significantly impacted by coronavirus and, sadly, many of us have lost loved ones to this terrible disease.

"There is reason to be optimistic about the future, with large scale vaccination offering hope that life can return more to normal before too long.

"But, while we look forwards with hope, it is also important we remember the human cost of the pandemic."

Rob Thomas, Vale of Glamorgan Council Managing Director, said: "Thousands of people have lost their lives to Covid-19 in Wales, with many more becoming seriously ill, and that fact should never be forgotten.

"As a mark of respect, we will observe a two-minute silence and light up Council buildings in yellow today.

"We also plan to create a more permanent commemoration at Porthkerry Country Park and will provide our town and community councils with trees so they can plan for their own memorials."

A minute's silence will be held at 12 noon, and Marie Curie has organised candlelight vigils.

"At 8pm we'll hold a minute's silence and come together to light up the night," said the charity.

"Stand outside with a light – a candle, a torch, even your phone - to remember someone who's died and show your support to people going through a bereavement.

"There are still tough times ahead, as the death toll continues to rise. This annual day will give us all time to pause and think about this unprecedented loss we're facing, and support each other through grief in the years to come."