A Festival of Thanks for the armed forces was held at Exmouth Museum on Saturday (June 10).

Sheppards Row was closed for the day, and the street and museum building were decorated with flags and bunting.

In the street there were displays including military vehicles and a motorcycle. Local militaria collector and author Simon Fogg brought along a collection of deactivated armaments. The Royal Marines Association and Royal Marines Historical Society, the Royal British Legion and Exmouth Girl Guides were among the many showcasing their organisations.

Special exhibits illustrating Exmouth's long association with the armed forces were set up inside the museum for the event. These included photographs, medals, model soldiers, ships and even a used brass six-inch Royal Naval shell, almost a metre high.

The Town Crier, Roger Bourgein summoned the crowd for the opening ceremony in which Carole Evershed, chair of the management committee, welcomed everyone and introduced the Mayor, Olly Davey, who officially opened the festival.

At noon the bugler from the Exmouth Town Concert Band sounded Reveille and the standards of the Royal British Legion, Royal Marines Association, Exmouth Guides, Exmouth Brownies and Exmouth Rainbows were all presented to the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Brian Wills-Pope MBE and the Mayor, who both took the salute. The ceremony concluded with the band playing The National Anthem.

Mike Menhenitt from the Society of Exmouth Museum said: "We would like to thank all those who exhibited and to Tesco, Krispies and Simon Fogg for their generous donations of raffle prizes.

"A special thanks to the townspeople and visitors who came out in force and braved the weather to celebrate such an important day and help raise record sums for the museum and Royal Marines Charities."