Every vantage point was taken as crowds flocked to Alton's Remembrance Sunday service at the Cairn War Memorial.

Veterans and uniformed groups bearing their standards paraded from the Market Square to the High Street for the service.

The service was led by associate vicar Revd David Chattell, accompanied by Revd Jon Rooke, both from the Parish of the Resurrection in Alton.

It opened with the Call to Remembrance, reminding everyone how at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the guns fell silent on the Western Front to bring to an end the First World War.

Next came seven Prayers of Intercession, for all who suffer as a result of conflict, followed by the Lord’s Prayer. The congregation sang the hymn O God, Our Help In Ages Past before a Bible lesson and an address.

Then a bugler played the Last Post, signalling the start of the two minutes’ silence at 11am. Reveille ended the silence and for the next quarter of an hour a steady stream of representatives of various organisations laid poppy wreaths in front of the Cairn to remember those who died in the two World Wars and subsequent conflicts.

Robert Graham, formerly of the Royal Hampshire Regiment, read a poem, which was followed by the Legion Exhortation and The Kohima Epitaph.

The latter said to those present: “When you go home, tell them of us and say ‘For your tomorrow, we gave our today’.”

There was another hymn, Praise My Soul, The King Of Heaven, a commitment to responsible living and faithful service, a prayer, a blessing and the National Anthem to bring an end to the service, after which members of the public who lost family or friends through war were invited to lay a Cross of Remembrance at the Cairn.

Laying wreaths were Commodore Richard Powell, Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire, Alton town mayor Cllr Annette Eyre, East Hampshire District Council chairman Cllr Graham Hill, Cllr Andrew Joy, who represents Alton Town on Hampshire County Council, East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds, the family of Victoria Cross recipient Ernest George Horlock, families, friends and individuals, the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy, Grenadier Guards, Royal Air Force, armed forces veterans, Royal Hampshire Regiment, Royal Air Force Association, Burma Star Association, Royal Marines Association, Royal British Legion branch, club and riders, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, British Transport Police, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, South Central Ambulance Service, Alton Masonic Centre, Alton Lions Club, Alton Rotary Club, Alton Community Centre, The Salvation Army, Quakers, St John Ambulance, St Mary’s RC Church, Watercress Line, Alton WI, Alton Townswomen’s Guild, Alton U3A, Army Cadets, Air Training Corps, Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Brigade, 3rd Alton Scouts, 8th Alton Scouts, Alton Westbrook District Guides, Eggar’s School, Amery Hill School, Alton College, Alton Football Club, Manor Colts Football Club, Alton Rugby Club, Alton Cricket Club, Alton Tennis Club and the political parties.