Well over 1,000 people are estimated to have filled Helston town centre on Sunday to see the combined Armistice Day parade and take part in the service of Remembrance.

This saw RNAS Culdrose join with Helston Royal British Legion, the town council, schools and youth organisations for a combined event that, for the first time, took place during the morning to incorporate the 11am two-minute silence, in recognition of the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day.

The open-air service was led by Rev Danny Reed, minister of the Central Methodist Church Helston, and took place in front of the Garden of Remembrance in front of the Grylls Monument.

It included the names of Helston fallen in the First and Second World Wars read out by Commander Jason Phillips, along with the names of Culdrose personnel who had died this year.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of all the armed services, as well as by a number of town groups and organisations.

The 45-minute service saw three hymns sung: O God Our Help in Ages Past, Eternal Father Strong to Save and Abide With Me.

Excerpts from the service can been watched at thepacket.co.uk with the full version on the Packet Newspapers Facebook page.

Speaking afterwards, Commander Phillips, president of the Helston Royal British Legion, said he was delighted with the number of people that attended and how the parade and service had gone, adding that a decision still had to be taken over whether to continue holding a combined Act of Remembrance again next year.

He added: "The plan was always, for the 100th celebration since the end of Armistice, to hopefully have a whole town and community event and it's been absolutely incredible."

The earlier parade was watched by crowds of people lining the streets as it followed a route from the Trengrouse Way car park down The Parade, into Meneage Street and to the bottom of Coinagehall Street.

Commemorations in the town began at 6am, the actual time of the signing of the Armistice, when David Maitland, a Royal Navy piper and member of Kernow Pipes and Drums, played the traditional end of battle lament "The Battle's Oe'r" at Helston's war memorial outside St Michael's Church. This was also echoed at Breage and Lizard Point.

The bell ringers of St Michael's then played half muffled peals for the 9am Holy Communion service and the 3pm Remembrance Armistice Service at the church, before joining with churches up and down the country to ring a total of 120 call changes at 7.05pm.

In the evening the town took part in a national lighting of beacons, at Helston Football Club, where music from Helston Town Band was followed by mayor John Martin reading the official commemorative poem Tribute to the Millions. Culdrose Military Wives Choir sang once the beacon had been lit.