A ceremony was held in Maidstone today to mark 200 years of Gurkha service to the Crown.

People gathered at Brenchley Gardens at noon before moving to the forecourt at the town's museum, in St Faiths Street, where a statue of a Queen's Gurkha Engineer stands proud.

Speeches were given, including words from the mayor Cllr Richard Thick, and a wreath was laid in tribute to those who have sacrificed their lives for Britain over the last two centuries.

Last week, some of the Gurkhas based at Invicta Park Barracks in Royal Engineers Road, Maidstone, made history when they stood outside Buckingham Place in London for the first time.

The honour was part of commemorations to mark their service to the British Army.