More than 8,000 people are expected to flock to Trowbridge this weekend as the town celebrates Armed Forces and Veterans Day.

The second annual event in Trowbridge Park will span the weekend and will open with a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on Saturday at 1.10pm. It will feature a Hurricane, Lancaster and a Spitfire and will be followed at 2.15pm by a Hercules fly-over.

As well as the spectacular fly-overs there will be activities throughout the afternoon, including a re-enactment from the 25th Bomb Disposal Company.

The park will be split into two key areas and the festivities will carry on into the evening, when there will be music and entertainment from Manhattan Dolls – three women from New York – and Company B, a 30-strong group who perform songs, sketches and gags.

The celebrations, which are being used to raise money for charities Help for Heroes and Combat Stress, will spill out into the streets of Trowbridge on Sunday, when at 2pm there will be a march through Roundstone Street, Silver Street, Market Street, Castle Street and ending in St Stephen’s Place.

It will be led by HM Royal Marines with a platoon from the Royal Naval Air Station in Yeovilton, in Somerset.

Along the parade a salute will be taken by Trowbridge mayor Clive Blackmore, who will be accompanied by other dignitaries.

Veterans Day committee secretary Maryrose Mantle said: “It has just got bigger and bigger and it is an absolutely fantastic day out. There is something in the park for all ages and people can come along with their memories and take more home with them.

“We are also inviting serving, ex-serving or retired veterans to take part in the drumhead service by the bandstand on Sunday from 3.30pm.”

Committee chairman Steve Williams said: “We are having an upper and a lower arena in the park.

“We have got the Indian Army Cavalry Lancers coming along and we are also working in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the cadet forces.”

Organisers say that this year parking in the nearby Court Street car park will be dedicated for blue badge holders only, as many visitors will be elderly veterans.

Weekend's key events -

Saturday

1.10pm: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast

2.15pm: Hercules fly-over

2.30pm: Army Air Corps fly-over Afternoon: Bomb disposal re-enactment group

6.30pm: The Big Show, with the Manhattan Dolls and Company B

Sunday

2pm: March through Trowbridge town centre

3.30pm: Drumhead service by the bandstand

4pm: Beat retreat from the band of the HM Royal Marines