Shropshire and Mid Wales fell silent to remember the nation’s war dead at services across the region.

Thousands of people turned out on Remembrance Sunday to honour the fallen.

Young and old bowed their heads and fell silent to remember the countless servicemen and women who laid down their lives in all conflicts since the First World War.

In Shrewsbury people lined the streets to watch a parade leave the castle at 9.15am.

HM Forces and service organisations marched through the streets with music provided by the First Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment Bugles, Pipes and Drums.

Shrewsbury mayor Tony Durnell, who once served with the Queen’s Dragoon Guards, said the occasion had brought a tear to his eye.

He said: “The service began in St Chad’s at 10.45am. It was crammed full, you could not have found a seat for a sparrow in there.

“When we left the church to lay crosses at the war memorial the quarry was full of people. It looked like the flower show. It brought a tear to my eye.”

Representatives from Shrewsbury’s Dutch twin town, Zutphen, also laid crosses at the war memorial.

“It was very moving,” added Councillor Durnell. “People told me it was the biggest parade they had seen in Shrewsbury.

“This year is also the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion. I think it goes to show how important it is to hold these services to remember those who have died.”

In Wellington organisers of the parade said they had double the number of people attend the Remembrance service and parade than previous years.

Wellington Town Council clerk Howard Perkins said: “The parade and service went extremely well. It was a beautiful morning.

“We had double the number of people attend. About 1,500 people came to the service or watched the parade.

“There were so many people we held the service on the green outside All Saints’ Church to accommodate everyone.

“The parade through the town started at 10.25am and the Last Post was sounded after the two minutes silence at 11am.”

In Welshpool hundreds of people of all ages crammed into St Mary’s church.

Young girls from 1st Welshpool Guides took part in the parade around the town.

Guide leader Carly Davies said it was important for the young to learn about Remembrance Sunday and what it means.

She said: “I attended the service at St Mary’s with the guides and rangers who marched in the parade through the town to the church.

“Hundreds of people lined the streets to watch the parade which also included scouts, cadets, brownies, the Royal British Legion and service personnel. Everyone at the service was respectful.”

Geoffrey Rastall, from the legion, said thousands more people had turned out in Oswestry.

He said: “The service and parade were very well attended. Church Street was absolutely packed with people as the parade went by.

“It marched with scouts, guides, ex-servicemen, the fire service, police and many more. It was the same story in the church.”

In Market Drayton, a parade marched from Queen Street to St Mary’s Church for a moving service.

The parade then marched to Cheshire Street where a salute was taken. Deputy mayor Councillor Stephen Glover, said the service was about remembering people who died to protect our freedoms.

Masses of people also turned out in Bishop’s Castle, Clun, Clunbury, Clee Hill, Whitchurch and dozens of other county towns and villages, all joining together to mark the day.

By Peter Finch