Hundreds gathered at the war memorial on Lowestoft's Royal Plain to remember those who have given their lives fighting for their country.

Despite the elements doing their best to dampen proceedings, members of the community stood firm on Remembrance Sunday to honour the fallen war heroes of days gone by.

Prior to the service, an official parade comprising standard bearers, veterans, the Territorial Army, cadet forces and other uniformed units congregated on Claremont Pier, before heading along the seafront and surrounding the war memorial at about 10.45am.

In his words of introduction, the chaplain of the service Rev Matthew Payne from Christ Church said: 'We remember with thanksgiving and sorrow, those lives that have been given, and taken away, in world wars and conflicts past and present.'

At 10.58am the bugler sounded the last post, before all those in attendance impeccably observed two minutes' silence.

Major-General John Sutherall, who served in the British Army for 34 years and is now a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, then gave a reading from the bible entitled 'Jesus calms the storm.'

Rev Payne then provided a short address, where he remembered an infamously devastating First World War campaign that was fought 100 years ago, and discussed the service of a local hero.

'1917 was a year marked by the terrible battles of Passchendaele in Belgium. So many lives for a few more miles of mud.

'Here in Lowestoft we especially remember a local fisherman who became a national hero - Skipper Tom Crisp, awarded the Victoria Cross.'

There followed the laying of wreaths around the war memorial by distinguished guests including members of the armed forces, members of the Royal British Legion, Peter Aldous MP and Waveney District Council leader Mark Bee.

Two students from Ormiston Denes Academy in Lowestoft then read poems including 'In Flanders Fields'.

The service concluded with a recital of The Lord's Prayer, the National Anthem and a final blessing from the chaplain.