THOUSANDS of people across Halesowen and Sandwell will pay homage to the fallen of two world wars, recent and current conflicts at Remembrance Day parades and services on Sunday.

Civic leaders will join veterans, service personnel and uniformed groups at the events organised by the Royal British Legion.

Around 600 are due to take part in Halesowen’s Remembrance Day parade which will leave the police station at 10am, led by the town’s Scout band.

Wreaths will be laid at the cenotaph outside the parish church of St John the Baptist and in a departure from tradition, the Last Post and silence will take place outside before going into the church at 11.10am.

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris will join local councillors and the parade will march to the Townsend Social Club after the service for refreshments.

Mr Morris and Cradley MP Margot James will take the salute as Cradley’s parade makes its way from the town’s community centre in Colley Lane at 2.30pm to St Peter’s Church, for a wreath laying ceremony and service.

A Scottish piper will lead the parade from Old Hill at 10.25am to the Powke Lane Crematorium at 10.45am. Those laying wreaths will include Mr Morris’s wife Anna and Councillor Barbara Price.

There will also be a remembrance service at the cenotaph at St Luke’s Church, Four Ways, Cradley Heath, at 3pm.

Members of the community are invited to join uniformed public services students at Halesowen College for a two minutes silence on the new all-weather sports pitch on Monday at 11am.