Where are the major Remembrance Sunday parades in Essex?

Parades are due to take place in Essex's three cities to mark Remembrance Sunday.

Road closures are planned in Colchester, Southend-on-Sea and Chelmsford as people gather to watch the proceedings.

Here are the major events taking place across Essex today.

The war memorial at the bottom of Colchester's High Street will be the focal point for commemorations in the city.

A remembrance service and wreath-laying ceremony will begin at 10:45 GMT.

Soldiers from the city's 16 Air Assault Brigade will be on parade, alongside civic dignitaries and the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas will set the occasion to music.

High Street will be closed to traffic from 08:00 until 13:00, with signed diversions in place.

After the service, Colchester's mayor will take the salute at the Town Hall as a parade proceeds along the High Street.

Garrison commander Lt Col Ed Rankin said: "I would invite everyone to join us in standing shoulder-to-shoulder to remember the sacrifice of all who have given their lives for others."

Southend's parade will assemble at Prittlewell Square from 10:15, before proceeding along Clifftown Parade to the cenotaph at 10:45.

The service of remembrance will begin at 11:00.

A Royal Artillery gun, placed in Cliff Gardens, will mark the start and end of the national two-minute silence.

Veterans, serving personnel and members of uniformed organisations have been invited to take part in the parade.

Temporary road closures are planned around the cenotaph area between 08:00 and 13:00, including in Westcliff Parade, Clifton Terrace and Prittlewell Square.

A full list of closures can be found here.

Tony Cox, the city's Reform UK mayor, said: "I encourage all residents and visitors to join us at the cenotaph as we remember the fallen, support our veterans, and pay tribute to those who continue to serve today."

Chelmsford's service will begin at 10:55 at the war memorial in Duke Street, followed by the two-minute silence at 11:00.

A parade will follow the service, with participants marching along Rainsford Road before making a U-turn and returning past the war memorial.

There, the mayor of Chelmsford will take the salute - and all those present have been asked to remain in their places.

Twenty-one roads will either be fully or partially closed across the city centre between 10:00 and 12:30.

They include Duke Street, New London Road, Rainsford Road and Victoria Road, and a full list can be found here.

This year also marks Chelmsford's first ever Poppy Festival, featuring the display of 75,000 handcrafted poppies.

They can be seen at:

• High Chelmer Shopping Centre
• Chelmsford Indoor Market
• Chelmsford Cathedral
• The war memorial
• The bandstand in South Woodham Ferrers

The mayor, Liberal Democrat Lynne Foster, said: "Remembrance Sunday gives us all an opportunity to pause, reflect and honour those who have served our country, as well as those who continue to serve today."

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