BOLTON dignitaries stood in silence to watch the Armed Forces Day flag fly over the Town Hall after a special service.

The Mayor of Bolton Cllr Martin Donaghy joined leader of the council Cllr Cliff Morris, chief executive Sean Harriss and other leading politicians as they paid their respects to the town’s servicemen and women yesterday.

They were joined by almost 100 people who stopped to listen to the service led by the Vicar of Bolton Parish Church Canon Matt Thompson and flanked by veterans from the Bolton and Horwich branch of the Royal British Legion.

The flag will fly from the Town Hall until Saturday when Victoria Square will become the hub of celebrations for Armed Forces Day where there will be performances by cadets and a service of remembrance at the war memorial.