The people of Shropshire turned out in their thousands to pay tribute to the fallen from wars stretching back almost a century.

Record crowds lined high streets up and down the county yesterday to watch parades of former and current military men and women, civic dignitaries and youth organisations and stood in silence at cenotaphs and other war memorials.

Many agreed that the crowds were bigger than ever and said the current troubles in Afghanistan had brought people out.

But there was a raw sadness in Market Drayton as soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment had earlier heard the news of the death of one of their comrades in Afghanistan.

Crowds lined the streets as The Royal Irish led a parade through the town.

Mick Hughes, from Market Drayton’s Royal British Legion branch, said: “The town turned out in mass to pay a fitting tribute during the day. I reckon it was probably one of the largest turn outs we have had for years, which was brilliant.”

Councillor Roger Smith, Mayor of Market Drayton, said the parade in the town was well attended, but he said the mood was sombre when people heard the news that a solder from Tern Hill Barracks had died in Afghanistan.

He said: “Hearing this tragic news was particularly poignant because it happened on Remembrance Sunday.”

Hundreds of people from across Telford turned out for the town’s main Festival of Remembrance at Oakengates Theatre last night.

Andrew Eade, leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “The theatre was absolutely packed last night and it was a very moving ceremony to remember those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and family.

“One hundred names were also read out with an address around that. The Abraham Darby Academy was there alongside standard bearers from a number of different organisations and representatives from the armed forces.”

Councillor Pat Smart, chairman at Hadley and Leegomery Parish Council, said this year’s service through Hadley in Telford broke all previous records.

“It was absolutely wonderful,” said Councillor Smart. “It was the biggest parade we have had and it’s growing year on year.

“I think this is because of the public awareness of the tragedies in Afghanistan that makes people want to be there to express their feelings.

“It was highly successful and there must have been about 600 people at the memorial and about 300 in the parade.

“We had more than 100 uniformed people there and the Salopian Brass band from Shrewsbury played.Our bugler, Craig Foskett, was absolutely stunning, he sent chills down our spines.”

In Ludlow, more than 200 people turned out for the Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

John Spittle, chairman of the Ludlow Royal British Legion, said: “We had the town band playing, which was newly-reformed and that went down very well. I had a list of the wreath layers and read out their names, it was the first time we had done that and the response from the public afterwards was absolutely fantastic.

“There were 28 wreaths laid at the war memorial in the town square and five in the porch at St Laurence’s Church, which was the old war memorial.”

Mr Spittle said there had been between 200 and 300 people at the memorial.

Similar numbers were reported at the service and parade in Bishop’s Castle.

Major General Denis Ryan, president of the town’s Royal British Legion, said: “It was one of our better attendances over the years. There was a procession from the town hall to the war memorial led by Bishop’s Castle Drum and Bugle Band.”

As well as the RBL, the procession included representatives from the Fire Service, Red Cross, the Scouts, the Army Cadet Force, town Mayor Keith Pinches and the town council. The two minute silence was held at the war memorial followed by the church service.

Other events around south Shropshire included a Remembrance Service at Lydham Village Hall, a parade from Talbot Yard in Cleobury Mortimer followed by wreath laying at St Mary’s Church and a parade from Church Stretton Social Club followed by services at St Laurence’s Church and the town’s war memorial.

There was also a service at St George’s Church in Clun followed by wreath laying at the war memorial and an Act of Remembrance and wreath laying at the war memorial in Purslow.

In Craven Arms, there was a service at Stokesay Church followed by wreath laying. In Bridgnorth, hundreds turned out to watch the parade and pay their respected at the war memorial in the town’s castle grounds.

Bridgnorth’s mayor, Councillor Val Gill, said: “The crowds certainly seemed to be bigger than ever, both on the High Street and in the castle grounds for the silence.

“There were people from the whole community, from young children to one man who was 95.”

A drum band joined the parade at Newport where, for the first time, the service in St Michael’s Church, was relayed to the crowds outside.

By Jason Lavan and Sue Austin