LUDLOW has marked the centenary of the start of the First World War.

A parade took place in the town centre which made its way to St.Laurence's Church where a service was held to mark the outbreak of war 100 years ago.

Attending the service were Councillor Paul Draper, mayor of Ludlow, civic dignitaries, and members of the Royal British Legion.

The Venerable Colin Williams, team rector for the Ludlow Team Ministry, told the congregation that the service shared in the beginning at a national marking of the centenary of the First World War, a war which changed the World forever.

"The Great War was the first direct experience of total, industrialised warfare that was shared by the population of Britain as a whole," he said.

"In this town of Ludlow a very high proportion of the young men of our town and its surrounding villages - almost 1000 in all - served in His Majesty's Armed Forces.

"Of them, 138 men gave their lives and have their names recorded in The Town War Memorial in the south porch of this church."

The names of these men were read out by Marcus Griffiths, Joanne Povall and Chloe Powell-Bevan, three young people from the town.

Extracts were read out of contemporary reports published in the Ludlow Advertiser.

"The Ludlow Advertiser gave excellent coverage of the progress of the war," Ian Barge, told the congregation. "It often included letters from the front from Ludlow men."

Before and after the service there was a short parade with the Ludlow branch of the Royal British Legion and Ludlow Town Council, among those represented.

The parade marched to music played by Ludlow Concert Band.

The last post was played in church and at the memorial in the square by deputy mayor Cllr Paul Kemp.

On Monday night there was a candle-lit vigil at St. Laurence’s Church to remember Sir Edward Grey’s famous quote that ‘the lights are going out all over Europe’.

In Ludford a memorial to those who served in the war was unveiled at Ludford Park Meadow of Remembrance and a day of events was held at Whitcliffe.