A military parade that will see some 2,000 veterans march along the Esplanade accompanied by marching bands and more than 80 historical military vehicles takes place today.

The event begins with an open air service at the cenotaph on Weymouth seafront at 11am.

A section of the Esplanade will be closed from 10am.

Monday will mark the closing of the celebrations, concluding with a flag raising ceremony at the council offices in Weymouth.

Cllr Graham Winter, Weymouth Town Council Mayor said: “Weymouth is very proud to have the veterans associations and community support to stage one of the country’s leading and most popular annual veteran’s events.

“The town council and its residents embrace every aspect of the celebrations and looks forward to giving a warm and hospitable welcome to many thousands of veterans, armed forces personnel and their visiting family and friends from Britain and overseas.

“I think it is very important to remember because so many people did sacrifice a lot so that we could live in peace.”

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Weymouth’s armed forces celebrations.