Emotional Festival of Remembrance held at Wolverhampton's Wulfrun Hall

The poignant service was held at Wolverhampton's Wulfrun Hall.

Hundreds of paper poppies fell from the ceiling of the venue as people stood in silence to remember those who have died in conflicts.

Readings, poems and music were all performed throughout the moving ceremony.

The service began with a Parade of Standards as representatives of various military organisations marched through the crowd to the front of the hall.

The clergy and choir from the city's St Peter's Church then joined them, with David Wright, rector of the parish of Central Wolverhampton, leading the prayers. As the Standard Bearers took up their flags once more, The Exhortation was read out followed by The Last Post, a two-minute silence and the Reveille.

Up to a dozen Second World War veterans, some of them in their 90s and beyond, attended the ceremony.

Mr Arthur Thomas, aged 91, joined the Royal Corps of Signals, and was later posted to 18th Air Formation Signals.

He landed on Juno beach as part of the Normandy Landings and later spent time in Versailles. The father-of-one, from Tettenhall, said: "I wouldn't miss this service for the world. It gives me a chance to put my medals on, come out with my friends and remember those who died. It always brings back a lot of memories."

William Fellows served with the Manchester Regiment from 1939 to 1946.

The 94-year-old president of the Wolverhampton branch of the Royal British Legion said: "Serving in the Armed Forces made a man out of me. This service means a lot to me. It is about remembering those who did not come back."

As the second half of the service began, each of the veterans was announced to the crowd and walked through a Guard of Honour made up of Standard Bearers before taking their seats again.

Chloe Russell, of Long Knowle School, read out a poem she had written as part of a competition held across the city. Students were visited by former and current members of the Armed

Forces and were asked to write a letter, poem or experience of a soldier or evacuee from the Second World War.

Ten-year-old Chloe was crowned the winner with her entry 'Family Tree'.

Music then followed from the Black Country Brass Band, Stourbridge-based singer Maggie O'Hara, city organist Steve Tovey and the Wolverhampton Orpheus Male Voice Choir.

Mayor of Wolverhampton Milkinder Jaspal also attended the ceremony.

He said: "It was a lovely service and it's a really really important event. in the city's calendar. It was a great way of showing respect to the people who served and those that gave their lives for us. They lost their future so we could have our today."