Crowds gathered to watch the annual Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying

People filled the streets as the town’s annual Remembrance Day parade took place on Armistice Day, a touching tribute to the men who fought.

Representatives from local groups, organisations and associations, such as the scouts, cadets, guides and brownies, joined members of the emergency services, Royal British Legion, Royal Naval Association, the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment Association, The Rifles and relatives of those remembered on the war memorial, to march through the town.

The parade, headed by the civic party, moved off from East Street and was led down South Street to the war memorial outside St Mary’s Church by the Wessex Military Band.

A short service and two minutes silence was held here with hundreds of people gathered round.

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The last post was played by Mandy Bell of the Wessex Military Band while the Exhortation was given by Brigadier John Dean, president of the Bridport brand of the Royal British Legion, and the Kohima Epitaph was said by Stuart Hawkins.

This was followed by a service in St Mary’s Church, with people also able to have a time of reflection in Bucky Doo Square.

Bridport mayor, Cllr Barry Irvine, said: “On behalf of Bridport Town Council and the town, I offer my heartfelt thanks to all of the people and organisations who contributed to a very special year of WW1 centenary commemorations, culminating in a poignant and fitting tribute on Remembrance Sunday.

“Sunday was a moving and emotional day, and I am hugely grateful to all of the organisations and individuals for both the preparations and participation on the day – on parade, at the war memorial, at the church service, and on the streets of Bridport.

“It was wonderful to see so many residents paying their respect and support – my thanks to everyone who came.

“It fills me with pride to be the town mayor during 2018, a year in which Bridport has shown that ‘we will remember them’.”