HUNDREDS of people across the town will celebrate the work and commitment of the armed forces this weekend.

A Flying the Flag ceremony and a family fun day will take place as part of an event on Saturday, which is being orgainsed by inSwindon for Armed Forces Day.

The town centre event, which everyone is invited to attend from 10am, will also include a veterans badging ceremony.

Rebecca Rowland, BID manager for inSwindon, said: “Armed Forces Day is a very important period in the calendar and the Flying the Flag ceremony is a nice way for it to start.

“We wanted to continue the recognition with a fun filled day of activity for the whole family to enjoy. We have made all this activity free of charge to encourage families to come in to the town centre and show off the town centre as a leisure destination as well as somewhere you would visit for shopping.”

The event will start in Wharf Green at 10am with the Flying the Flag ceremony where Deputy Lieutenant David Brewer, Swindon mayor Nick Martin and the Swindon Sea Cadets will raise the flag to mark the start of Armed Forces Day.

At 10.30am the Deputy Lieutenant and the mayor will award veterans the prestigious lapel badge at a special ceremony.

From 11am a family fun day will be running in the town centre. Activities, which are free of charge, include jousting, a bungee run, sumo suits, a climbing wall gyro scope, surf simulator, fair ground rides and a Wimbledon showcase with free lessons from Delta Tennis.

The Swindon TA will also be on hand to promote their services with various charity stalls throughout the town centre.

This will be the fifth year inSwindon will be running the event.

There will also be Armed Forces Day events in Faringdon Road Park on Saturday.

Mike Buss, who served in the Army for 10 years, is part of a group of former soldiers organising fitness events to mark the day.

On Saturday there will be an Armed Forces Day charity run challenge to raise funds for military charities. People can try the official Army personal fitness assessment, which consists of a 1.5mile run, then two minutes of press ups (modified if needed) and two minutes of sit ups (half sit ups if needed).

To join the charity challenge search for Mike Buss PT on Facebook or call 07791 356 482.