Maidstone has marked the occasion of the seventh Armed Forces Day with a ceremonial flag-raising ceremony.

Civic dignitaries gathered before the Town Hall in Jubilee Square and watched as the Mayor’s Sea Cadet Matthew Sheppard raised the special flag on a temporary flag-mast in the High Street.

Gurkhas from 36 Engineer Regiment then performed a Khukuri dance display, and there were speeches by the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Daniel Moriarty, and by the Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, Bill Cockcroft.

In the audience were the council’s chief executive Alison Broom, the CO of 36 Engineers Richard Walker RE, Chief Inspector Mick Gardner of Kent Police, Cllr Fran Wilson and Cllr Fay Gooch, respectively the leader and deputy leader of the council.

The flag has now been transferred to the permanent flag-pole on top the Town Hall where it will fly for the rest of the week.