HUNDREDS of people stopped to remember to all those who have fallen during military service at Remembrance Sunday parades across south Essex.

In Southend, about 2,500 people joined Southend councillors, MPs, school pupils, cadet forces and veterans for the annual service and march past.

Hundreds of veterans, families, young people and politicians fell silent to remember the country’s war dead at a poignant ceremony at the Paddocks Community Centre in Long Road, Canvey.

Wreaths were laid at the war memorial before Castle Point mayor Jackie Govier led the procession into the main hall for a service.

In brilliant autumn sunshine, Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris joined councillors and hundreds of spectators who gathered to pay their respects.

The service was led by Rev David Tudor, Rector of Canvey, who the previous evening had mingled with royalty and Prime Minister David Cameron at the Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall.

He had collected 92 petals scattered at the previous event and gave them to schoolchildren to distribute to people at Sunday’s service. Councillor Ray Howard joined Mrs Harris to lay a wreath.

He said: “Rev Tudor’s service was stunning. The whole thing was excellent.”

Mr Howard said he estimated there were 600 people in the hall plus those outside.

Due to high numbers, many people could not get inside the hall.

Castle Point Council will soon meet to discuss ways of accommodating more people at next year’s event.

Mr Howard said the event is always dear to him because the only doodle bug flying bomb to hit Canvey in 1944 struck his house in Deepwater Road, killing his two brothers, a cousin and a neighbour.

In Basildon scores of ex-servicemen, Scout and youth cadet groups marched through the town from 10.30am.

Shoppers formed a line on either side all the way through to St Martin’s Square as the sombre parade made its way to St Martin’s Church for a remembrance service.

Bells tolled from the church tower before the wreath laying ceremony as crowds of shoppers followed behind to watch the proceedings.

Many took part in the service from outside with hymns inside broadcast to the crowd by loud speaker. The service began with Make Me a Channel of Your Peace.

Basildon mayor Mo Larkin said they were there to honour those who died in Iraq and Afghanistan and many battles before.