DUDLEY will fall silent this weekend to remember those who gave their lives in war.

A number of services and parades will be held on Remembrance Sunday (November 12), to give people a chance to pay their respects.

Veterans will be joined by servicemen and women and community groups for a parade that will start in Vicar Street, Dudley, at 10.30am.

It will move along High Street, Stone Street, Priory Street, Priory Road before finishing at the cenotaph in Ednam Road, where a service will take place at 10.40am.

Several road closures will be in place to make sure the event runs smoothly and safely including Priory Road, Ednam Road, New Street, Tower Street, Priory Street, Stone Street, St James’s Road, Parsons Street, Market Place, High Street, Wolverhampton Street, Union Street and Vicar Street.

Dudley will also mark Armistice Day on Saturday (November 11), when veterans will join civic leaders and residents at the Clock Tower in Priory Street for a service at 11am.

The service will include the laying of wreaths and a two-minute silence.

Priory Street will be closed briefly during this time.

A service of remembrance will also take place in Woodsetton on Sunday at 9am.

The service will be held at the war memorial on the grassed area on the corner of Sedgley Road and Parkes Hall Road.

It will be led by Father Alan Howes from St Chad’s Church and tea and coffee will be served at the Bramford Arms afterwards, thanks to the Woodsetton Charitable Trust.

Councillor Keiran Casey, who has helped to organise the event along with fellow ward councillor Adam Aston, said: "Every year we invite hundreds of residents to join the tributes to those from Woodsetton, Dudley and elsewhere who have died fighting to uphold the great British values of freedom, fairness, democracy, tolerance and equality - something that we must never forget.

“There is no greater example of the community coming together than this dignified act of remembrance in honour of all British service men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

“Myself and Adam are extremely grateful to Father Howes and to Woodsetton Charitable Trust for all their help and support."

In Lower Gornal, people have been asked to assemble outside The Royal British Legion in Ruiton Street at 9.30am for a parade that will start at 10am.

It will stop outside Zoar Methodist Church in Bank Road for a short service before heading to the war memorial for the full service of remembrance at 11am.

While in Brierley Hill, a short service will take place at the war memorial on Church Hill, where people are asked to gather at 10.30am.

Uniformed organisations will be parading from Bell Street towards the war memorial, where the service will begin just after 10.45am. After a two-minute silence and the laying of wreaths, the parade will then head to St Michael’s Church where a service will start at about 11.15am.

Dudley MP Ian Austin and St Thomas's councillors Shaukat Ali, Shaneila Mughal and Steve Waltho, are encouraging residents to attend the annual memorial service at Grazebrook Park.

Mr Austin said: “Local people have shown great respect for the Grazebrook Memorial and we have seen the number of people attending year on year.

“We work with the Friends of Buffery Park and local residents so we can pay our respects to those who died fighting for the British values of democracy, equality, freedom, fairness, and tolerance.”

Led by Reverend Jem Hawkins, the service will start at 9.15am at the the park in Grazebrook Road.

Councillor Dave Tyler, Mayor of Dudley, said: “It’s so important for us to remember the people from our towns who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“They gave their lives on the field of battle for our generation to enjoy the freedoms of today.

“The good people of Dudley borough normally turn out in their thousands to pay their respects, and I expect this Sunday to be no different.”

People can also pay their respects by placing a poppy in the special cross of remembrance at the fountain in Dudley Market Place.

The cross is available at all times of the day or night for people to pay their personal tributes to people who have lost their lives.