THE ISLAND'S Armed Forces Day was marked by parades at Sandown on Saturday watched by hundreds of residents and tourists.

The annual parades are held to celebrate the contribution of the men and women of the armed forces to the security of the UK and around the rest of the world.

Two parades were held in the town including one which was overseen by the Lord Lieutenant of the IW, Maj Gen Martin White and the Island's High Sheriff, Gioia Minghella, as well as other dignitaries.

There was a march past of veterans and bands at the parades with music coming from Island bands as well as from Maj Gen White's former regiment, the Royal Logistics Corps.