Crowds turned out to observe a “moving” Battle of Britain commemoration in Bury St Edmunds yesterday.

Parades in the town centre and a service at St Mary’s Church marked Germany’s failure to win the Battle of Britain campaign, which was considered a crucial turning point in the Second World War.

The commemoration began with a short service led by the Royal British Legion at the war memorial in Angel Hill before Bury St Edmunds Sea Cadets (Mayor’s Own) Band led a parade from the Abbey Gardens to St Mary’s Church with troops from RAF Honington, veterans and cadets.

This was followed by a civic procession from the Athenaeum in Angel Hill to the church.

At the end of the service the parade made its way back to the square for a march past and salute taken by RAF Honington Station Commander, Group Captain Scott Miller, and the Mayor of St Edmundsbury, councillor Terry Buckle.

Mr Buckle, who was in the Army from 1958 to 1960, said it had been a moving occasion.

“I was very pleased with the number of people who came out today, I really was,” he said.