Britain's military might on display as region gears up to celebrate Armed Forces Day

Attention will be on North East Lincolnshire which is the first area chosen to host the national event, but parades, celebrations and flypasts have also been planned in towns and cities across the region.

Armed Forces Day is a chance to show support for serving troops, service families, veterans and cadets. Later in the year on September 8, Reserves Day will also provide an opportunity for the country to recognise the role of reserve forces.

Three days of celebrations in Cleethorpes, which has RAF Cranwell, Coningsby and Waddington nearby, will include fireworks, live music, the Red Arrows and a display by the Royal Marines.

In Yorkshire, Leeds’ Armed Forces Day on Saturday will also be a spectacular event with a host of activities on Victoria Gardens and Cookridge Street and in front of the Town Hall.

A parade through the city centre, will feature servicemen and women, past and present, alongside cadets from across the city.

The climax will be a flyover by a Lancaster Bomber which will take place over the city centre.

Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor Gerry Harper, said: “Leeds is a city which has a rich and long history with our armed forces. Armed Forces Day is one of the most popular civic events of the year, which just goes to show how much our serving personnel and veterans are appreciated by the people of Leeds.”

On Sunday, Skipton will welcome The Yorkshire Regiment who are bringing a firing range, their Corps of Drums display and a climbing tower to the town.

There will also be a Spitfire flypast and Skipton’s Library and the Craven Museum and Gallery will be open to remember the Battle of the Somme.

In West Yorkshire there will be a fun packed day of events and activities at Pontefract Park in the centre of the racecourse while York, a Garrison town since AD71, will mark the occasion in Parliament Square.

In Rotherham, First South Yorkshire are giving free bus travel for servicemen and women along with veterans on Saturday.

Up to 100,000 visitors are expected in Cleethorpes where Prime Minister David Cameron will also pay tribute.

Alex Baxter, Armed Forces Champion for North East Lincolnshire, said, “I’m very proud that we’ve secured the Armed Forces Day National Event for 2016 for North East Lincolnshire. Hosting Armed Forces Day will give our residents and others in the region an unparalleled opportunity to show their support and appreciation for serving and former Armed Forces personnel.

“We have a great military history in North East Lincolnshire – whether it was our fishing fleet being used as mine-sweepers, the Grimsby Chums, the hundreds of aircraft that left Lincolnshire’s soil, we have been part of defending the nation for hundreds of years.

“We’ve worked extremely hard in the last few years to build this fantastic event, and to be awarded the national event is a great honour.”

*See Tuesday’s The Yorkshire Post for a special Picture Past supplement honouring Yorkshire’s troops.