Fancy getting up close to military hardware including tanks, guns and even a helicopter? Boys’ toys with a difference will be on display at the Great Lines Heritage Park in Gillingham as Medway salutes our serving forces on Saturday.

Armed Forces Day starts at 11am at Garrison No 2 ground and will include a 500-strong parade at 12.30pm.

The day will also see bandstand concerts, a naval forces display area, a funfair, stalls and other activities.

Visitors can get hands on with earth moving equipment, heavy transport trucks, armoured vehicles, a battlefield ambulance and fire engines.

In the Royal Engineers Trade Village many of the skills taught to young Royal Engineers in Brompton Barracks will be demonstrated, again with opportunities for visitors to try their hand.

Also in the RE Trade Village will be the ever popular Divers Tank plus troops from the airborne and commando arms of the Royal Engineers.

A special display this year is provided by the Gurkhas of 69 Squadron based in Maidstone, but once based in Chatham’s Kitchener Barracks.

There will be a programme of demonstrations and entertainment in the main arena and at the bandstand where music will be provided by the BAE Band and the popular Swingtime Sweethearts singing duo.

Features in the main arena will include the Royal Engineers inter-troop bridge building competition, the Ferret armoured car display and the arrival of the Waterloo Dispatch, fresh from its recent appointment in London with the Princess Royal.

The day will end with Beating Retreat by the Royal Engineers’ Band, starting at 5pm, followed by the flypast departure of the Gazelle Squadron helicopters.