COTSWOLD District Council is gearing up to celebrate this year’s Armed Forces Day in the north and south of the district later this month.

There will be a special flag raising ceremony at the Council’s Trinity Road headquarters, in Cirencester, headquarters at 10 am which will be followed by a similar event at the Moreton Area Centre at noon.

At both venues the public will be given the opportunity to show their support for the work of the Army, Navy and RAF.

Each ceremony will also be attended by local representatives of the armed forces, and senior officials from the council.

Council Chairman Councillor Clive Bennett said: “Since its introduction in 2009, Armed Forces Day has gathered ground and it is particularly fitting this year that we will be marking the start of the First World War.

"There are many service personnel, military veterans and cadets in the district and they and their families all deserve our thanks for helping to defend this country’s interests, sometimes in the most dangerous and demanding conditions.”

Councillor Lynden Stowe, Leader of the Council, added: “This is the second year we have staged a ceremony at Moreton as well as Cirencester and we are delighted to be doing it again.

"Both ceremonies went very well last year with a good number of people turning up at both venues to pay their respects to past and present service personnel who have done so much to make this country safe and prosperous.”