WITH every passing year their numbers get fewer but Southampton's veterans were joined in their hundreds by the people of the city who came to honour the war dead.

More than a thousand people congregated at the Cenotaph at Southampton's Watts Park to offer their prayers and thoughts to those who had given their lives in battle.

Scores of young service men and women stood to attention under the leafy canopy of the park side by side with those who served in conflicts, the county's own battalions that have served more recently in Iraq never far from their thoughts.

A party of dignitaries led by Southampton's Chief Superintendent Paul Stickler processed in front of the war memorial before the service of remembrance began.

Led by Rev Ian Johnson, the Rector of Southampton, and Canon John O'Shea, the Roman Catholic Dean of Southampton, the service began with a short introduction by the city mayor John Slade before the familiar notes of The Last Post echoed around the park.

A silence then befell the crowd of more than 1,000 who stood in tribute to remember those who died in conflict.

Prayers were then led by a number of different communities including Baha'i, Sikh, Hindu, Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish.

The poppy wreath laying saw almost 50 floral tributes laid at the foot of the Cenotaph, led by Ernie Spacagna, 92, as representative of the Royal British Legion.

With the help of a stick and two aides, the veteran of the D-Day landings gave the moving Exhortation before the crowd joined in the words which summed up the service: "We will remember them."

Following the National Anthem, the dignitaries which included both Southampton MPs and members of Southampton City Council, led off the procession followed by representatives from the armed forces.

The Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire Mary Fagan and Mr Slade both took the salute at the Guildhall as they trooped past before they gathered for a final moment of remembrance outside the Civic Centre.