Medway's biggest ever Armed Forces Day celebration has attracted thousands of people.

Serving soldiers, veterans and families have attended the free military pageant in Gillingham's Great Lines Heritage Park today (Saturday).

A musical extravaganza to mark 50 years since the end of National Service will run until 9pm.

Guests have been sipping tea from a cafe inside a 1940s truck - or drinking from a bar inside a red double-decker bus.

The parade featured 10 units including the 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment, the Band of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment and the Rochester Pipe Band.

It was followed by a drumhead service led by Padre Many Reynolds, regimental chaplain at the 36 Engineer Regiment at Invicta Barracks, Maidstone, and presided over by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent Viscount De L'Isle.

Cadets on land, air and sea have also made their presence known from across the Medway Towns.

Children tackled an assault course and a press-up challenge and watched military divers in a display tank.

Four-year-old Matthew Walton, who came with his mum Kelly, from Gillingham, said: "The divers were my favourite bit. I high-fived one of them!"

Organiser Bill Fowler, who put together the 20-acre site with Medway Council, said before it kicked off: “It’s going to be stunning. People will be blown away by it. People are stopping us and saying they will be coming. Others are asking for posters to promote it. The atmosphere is building up and there is a general sense of excitement.”

Children are also being entertained at a funfair and by an inter-squadron tug-of-war contest this afternoon.

The event is backed by BAE Systems and the KM Group.

Check back later for a photo gallery and see the Medway Messenger - out Monday and Friday - for full coverage.