Sidmouth’s former service personnel are being called on to take part in the Remembrance Day parade this weekend as the town turns out to pay its respects.

Today (Friday) marks the beginning of a series of events, with poppies being laid down at 10.45am to form a giant cross in a garden of remembrance at Sidmouth Parish Church.

On Remembrance Sunday (November 9), service personnel are invited to gather outside The Co-operative in High Street, from where Sidmouth Town Band will lead a parade at 10.30am to the war memorial.

The parade marshall, who wants to remain anonymous, said: “I feel it is important for all former service personnel to join us.”

The Reverend Philip Bourne will conduct proceedings at the memorial, followed by a special Remembrance Sunday service in Sidmouth Parish Church.

There will be a special mention of the nine people from Sidmouth who were killed in World War One, as its centenary year is commemorated.

In Sidbury, a parade will leave the village’s War Memorial at 10.45am on Remembrance Sunday, gathering in St Giles’ Church for a special service.

St Peter’s Church in Sidford will also host a remembrance service at 9.15am.

Ottery St Mary residents are invited to a service of remembrance in the parish church at 10.30am. There will also be a service at the war memorial with the Salvation Army at the same time.

Armistice Day on Tuesday, November 11, will be marked in Sidmouth with a march from Market Place to the war memorial, where rockets will be fired to mark the beginning and end of a two minute silence.

Sidbury schoolchildren will be in attendance at St Giles’ Church on Tuesday for a service taking place at 10.45am.

Chairman of Sidmouth’s Royal British Legion branch, Dave O’Connor, said: “The Poppy Appeal so far this year has been excellent, we have had a great response.”