A RECORD number of people turned out over the weekend to mark Armed Forces Day and Veterans Weekend.

About 800 people lined the streets in Colerne to salute the locally-based 21st Signal Regiment.

Servicemen, ex-servicemen and representatives from the Colerne branch of the Royal British Legion marched through the village,

joined by scouts and guides, and cadets from the village who also took the opportunity to fundraise at the annual summer fete in the grounds of Colerne Primary.

Sharon Williams, chair of Colerne Primary School’s fundraising body FRESCO said: “It was a huge day and there were more people there than there has ever been before.

“The day was really lovely and it was a mixture of the young and old, so it was quite fitting to mark Armed Forces Day. Soldiers from the 21st Signal Regiment came across with a tank and they were brilliant in getting involved with a tug of war.

Armed Forces Day, being celebrated for the sixth time in Colerne, is a cause close to many of the villagers’ hearts as the 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support) are based at Azimguhr Barracks, in Colerne.

Mrs Williams added: “I would say that there was something for everyone on the day. It is extremely important to mark Armed Forces Day because the 21st Signal Regiment are locally based and as a school, 50 per cent of our children come from service backgrounds and that is why we thought a fete alongside the march would be the best way to appreciate their work.

“We are a huge community and it is important to show that we enjoy having them here and we are proud to have them in our village.”

Other highlights for this year’s summer fete included military displays, a performance by the Colerne Military Wives Choir, a children’s assault course and a Pantomime Horse Race.

Meanwhile there was a record turnout at Trowbridge Town Park for the Wiltshire Armed Forces and Veterans Weekend.

The two-day event, which celebrates and remembers the veterans and serving members of the armed forces, attracted almost 15,000 visitors, who made the most of the live demonstrations, exhibitions and re-enactments.

Attractions included a debut performance by The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment, while the 14 Royal Regiment of Artillery returned to the event with their AS 90 gun after being awarded the Freedom of the Town last year.

The crowds were also wowed by a flypast by a Hurricane plane, the popular Challenger 2 Battle Tank, a static spitfire displays and re-enactments by The Allies LGH, 4th Wiltshire’s Living History Group and The Wiltshire Home Guard Group.