READING paid tribute today on Remembrance Sunday with services staged throughout the area.

At Tilehurst, more than 1,000 people took part in a service at the war memorial led by the Rev John Rogers, rector of St Michael's Church.

At the service, Rev Rogers said: "This Remembrance Sunday we should remember those who died to protect the dignity of others", adding that in this modern world, dignity should apply to those fleeing war-torn areas of the world and seeking sanctuary.

Servicemen and women from across the years laid wreaths at the foot of the memorial with was bathed in brilliant sunshine.

Among them was D-Day veteran, Raymond Gregory, who had attended every Remembrance Sunday service at Tilehurst since 1948.

The band of the Salvation Army played during the service as standard bearers from the Royal British Legion and also from the Scouts stood solemnly.

The service was attended by civic leaders and also many youngsters from cubs, scouts, brownies, guides and cadet groups who marched to the war memorial.

Colin Edwards, vice chairman of the Tilehurst Royal British Legion and Poppy Appeal organiser, said that the relevance of Remembrance Sunday was an important as ever.

"It is important that the youngsters here today carry this on for the future," he said. "The service in Tilehurst gets bigger every year, so much so that we have had to bring in stewards."

Reflecting on the controversy over the use of the poppy as a symbol, following the decisions by the English and Scottish football teams to wear the emblems on their shirts, despite opposition from the governing body, FIFA, Mr Edwards said that the poppy could never be viewed as a political symbol.

"The poppy is a symbol of peace," said the former RAF serviceman. "You have to remember that it was poppies which first grew on the battlefields following the First World War. It is not a political symbol.

"The Poppy Appeal this year has gone very well, and we should know how well in a few weeks' time once we know the final figures.

The Royal British Legion has been in existence since 1921 and in Tilehurst since 1934.

Elsewhere across Reading, the Royal British Legion was heavily involved with other services held across the borough this morning.

In Reading, soldiers from the 7 Rifles Regiment paraded through the town centre from Reading Minster to Forbury Gardens following a service there, before the laying of wreaths at the war memorial.

And at Burghfield, there was a flypast by a Chinook helicopter from RAF Odiham as part of Remembrance Day events at at St Mary the Virgin Church.

In Bracknell, there was wreath laying at the war memorial in Stanley Walk, followed by a service at the Holy Trinity Church.

And in Wokingham, there was a parade from the town hall to All Saints Church, led by the Saint Sebastian brass band.

Other services and parades took place during the day in Arborfield, Binfield, Caversham, Crowthorne, Pangbourne, Sandhurst, Shinfield, Sonning, Twyford, Wargrave, Winnersh, Woodley and Twyford.