Twenty white carnations were laid at the ceremony

Archbishop of Liverpool, The Most Rev Patrick Kelly, said the deaths of the 20 cocklers meant "evil must be confronted".

More than 500 people attended the service at Lancaster Cathedral on Sunday.

The migrant workers - many thought to be Chinese - died after being caught at night on mudflats by a rising tide.

Bishop Kelly said: "We pray such a tragedy will not happen again. We owe it to these men and women, our brothers and sisters, who have died that we will endeavour to seek ways to remedy this pain the Chinese community must feel so deeply.

"The tragedy of Morecambe Bay demands that questions are asked and that the inquiry is searching, rigorous and thorough.

"Questions must be asked, wrongs named, evil confronted, guilt never ignored."

Two memorial services have already been held for the dead

The service was attended by members of the Catholic, Anglican, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist faith.

Included in the service was a ceremony in which 20 white flowers were laid on the altar in memory of the dead.

The congregation heard that a fund was to be set up by the North West Chinese Council to help the victims' families.

Also attending the service were local MP Geraldine Smith, The Roman Catholic Bishop of Lancaster, the Rt Rev Patrick O'Donoghue and the Anglican Bishop of Lancaster, the Rt Rev Stephen Pedley.

Representatives of the Chinese community, including Amy Wang, from Lancaster University, and Lee Kai Hung, of the North West Chinese Council, were also at the service.

Members of the emergency services who tried to save the victims in Morecambe Bay also attended

The tragedy on 5 February led to the government indicating plans to regulate gangmasters of migrant labour.

Speaking before the service, Bishop O'Donoghue said the themes would be twofold.

'Examine consciences'

"It represents an opportunity for the local community to give an expression of sympathy and solidarity for the relatives and friends of the bereaved," he told BBC News Online.

"But it is also a call to all of us to examine our consciences.

"Here is the awful tragedy in our midst and we did not know or understand the plight of these migrant workers," he said.

Since the tragedy, seven people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and have been released on police bail.

Two survivors and a fishing boss, among those arrested, later released statements denying responsibility for the deaths.