REMEMBRANCE parades in Wivenhoe and Manningtree attracted thousands of people yesterday.

Hundreds of schoolchildren have made an annual Remembrance parade more special than ever.

Every year school children watch the Manningtree and District Remembrance Day parade from the sidelines.

But to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, the Manningtree primary schools were asked to take part in the parade, which attracted about 1,000 people.

Fallen soldiers were honoured over a two-day commemoration in Wivenhoe.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR 50-PICTURE GALLERY SHOWING HOW COLCHESTER CAME TOGETHER TO REMEMBER THE FALLEN

To mark 100 years since the end of the First World War, a weekend of emotional services was held.

The first took place on Saturday at St Mary’s Church where more than 1,000 knitted poppies had been laid.

The Wivenhoe History Group also put on a presentation with each slide including a picture of each soldier who died.

There was also a map of Wivenhoe indicating where families received the dreaded telegram telling them their loved one had died.

Yesterday, the Royal British Legion service was held starting at the Congregational Church in the High Street and moving on to St Mary’s Church, where the Rev Erwin Lammens led proceedings.