Hundreds of people fell silent in the centre of St Albans this morning to mark Remembrance Sunday.

A parade involving veterans, armed forces personnel, and other uniformed organisations moved through St Peter’s Street before stopping by the war memorial.

After opening prayers, a hymn and the Act of Remembrance, the Last Post sounded, marking the start of the two-minute silence.

Wreaths were then laid at the bottom of the war memorial, which contains the names of 634 names of men from St Albans who died during the First World War.

Reverend Rosemary Fletcher, Minister of Marlborough Road Methodist Church in St Albans, said: “We pray for all who, in bereavement, disability and pain, continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror.

“We remember with thanksgiving and sorrow those whose lives, in world wars and conflicts past and present, have been given and taken away.”

David Weber, a former officer who served in the Air Corp for 22 years and laid a wreath at the memorial, said the two world wars allowed people to be “freer”.

He said: “The issue of freedom is what many people joined the forces in the first place, whether they wanted to or not.”

Quenton Jones, from London Colney, watched the parade with his partner and two children.

He said: "It is really good to see so many people out and it is great to see so many children involved."

Rebecca Cracknell, who also watched the parade with her two children and partner,  said: "It is great to see so many people from different parts of the community coming together to remember something which is so important in history.

"We want our children to try and understand the importance of it and appreciate the sacrifices that have been made, but also their moment in history and the sacrifices that people have made before them."

The parade featured hundreds of children from a variety of uniformed organisations, including the sea cadets, brownies, scouts and guides.

Don Dell, Chairman of the St Albans branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “The turnout was absolutely fantastic.

“It is very important for the children who are being taught about it. They are realising their family was involved in it.

“When they are having to learn through the family who it was who died in the wars, it is getting them interested in it as well.”

Lt Commander Andrew Carey, executive officer of HMS Wildfire, said: “I think it is amazing and a privilege for the whole city to take part in this remembrance.

“It used to be much more about the two World Wars. But I think, because of the conflicts we have had in the last 20 or 30 years, I think it has impacted on younger people and perhaps that is something more personal to their families.

“Whereas before they might have had a grandfather who fought in one of the World Wars, now they might have an uncle who fought in Afghanistan.”

Hundreds of people also lined St Peter’s Street and as the parade moved back down the street after the service, the audience began to clap.

Tony Wright, Assistant Sergeant Major of the Salvation Army, said: “I think it is getting bigger and bigger every year because of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“It used to be a lot of veterans but now there are lots of younger people here as well.

“If you look around today, there are lots of children who are wearing their poppies proudly and have their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents medals on.”

It is 70 years since the end of the Second World War in both Europe and Asia.

“We pray for all current members of the armed forces who are in danger this day, remembering family, friends and all who pray for their safe return, for civilian women, children and men, who lives are disfigured by war or terror, calling to mind in penitence the anger and hatred of humanity”, Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest Coupe of the Salvation Army, said in a prayer.