MEMBERS of 40 Commando Royal Marines will be marching through Weston-super-Mare on Saturday (June 10) to launch Armed Forces Day.

They will march along the Royal Promenade a fortnight earlier than the national event.

The Band of HM Royal Marines Plymouth will lead the procession with members of 40 Commando, veterans and cadets following behind.

The parade will step off from the Royal Hotel at 10.30am, heading north along the Royal Parade, towards Knightstone Causeway.

From there, the procession will march south, returning to the Winter Gardens where the Lord Lieutenant will take the salute at approximately 10.45am.

Attention will then shift to the Armed Forces Village, located in The Italian Gardens, which will play host to the Armed Forces Day celebrations.

The event kicks off with the opening ceremony at 12noon and will follow on with a day of demonstrations, displays, music from The Band of HM Royal Marines Plymouth and activities to celebrate the entire Armed Forced Community.

The Mayor Cllr Ciaran Cronnelly said: “Nine years ago Weston-super-Mare granted 40 Commando, Royal Marines the freedom of the town and I am delighted that they’ll be exercising that freedom this weekend, on Armed Forces Day.

"This is going to be a historic day for our beautiful town and moment of pride for Weston-super-Mare, we look forward to see many people turn out to witness it."

40 Commando Royal Marines, based at Norton Manor Camp, near Taunton, are a high readiness unit that is currently preparing for deployments later on in the year.

They have been affiliated to Weston-super-Mare for over 14 years and were subsequently awarded the Freedom of the Town back in June 2014.