DESPITE a morning-long deluge, today's (Sunday, 6 November) Remembrance parade took place in Purfleet on Thames.

Organised by Purfleet Heritage and Military Centre the service at St Stephen's Church was hosted by Rev Tara Frankland and also marked the 100th anniversary of the war memorial in its grounds.

A parade took place from the centre to the church and those unable to march took advantage of a vintage bus, provided by Ensign Buses.

Wreaths were laid by a number of civic dignitaries, including borough mayor Cllr James Halden and MP Jackie Doyle-Price. Local ward councillors Victoria Holloway and Qaisar Abbass also laid tributes - as did members of the local community and service organisations and former borough MP Andrew Mackinlay,

Dave Honeywell, musical director of Grays Town Band, played the Last Post, Reveille and the national anthem.