The flag has been raised for the Armed Forces Day celebrations in Skipton this weekend.

Members of the Skipton Royal British Legion watched this week as the special Armed Forces Day flag was hoisted at Skipton Town Hall.

It will stay in place until the end of the celebrations on Sunday when the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne, presents it to ex-serviceman Jack Yarker.

He served with the Scottish regiment the Cameronians during the Second World War and is a former chairman of the Legion as well as a poppy appeal collector.

The day’s programme will start with the veterans forming up in front of the town hall at 9.50am, ready for the firing of a cannon at 10am by a re-enactment group.

Major General Michael Charlton-Weedy, president of the North Yorkshire Royal British Legion, will then officially open the proceedings.

During the day, there will be performances from Aireville School, the Royal British Legion Band, the Sealed Knot, the Haworth Home Guard, Buckden Singers, harpist Frank Wood, St John Ambulance, the Super Trouper dance troupe, the Fire Service Cadets, Keighley Sea Cadets and the Air Training Corps Band.

Activities will centre on the High Street – which will be closed from 7am to 5.30pm – and an arena will be erected at the end of Otley Steet.

The celebrations will end with the presentation of the flag and a parade of veterans at about 3pm.

Ahead of Armed Forces Day, more than 150 soldiers who have recently returned from Afghanistan will march through Skipton tomorrow.

Around 100 guardsmen with fixed bayonets, 30 Ghurkas, five drummers and two armoured vehicles will take part in the Freedom Parade.

The 3rd Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly The Duke of Wellington’s, was awarded the Freedom of Craven in May 2002, which allows it to march through the town with bayonets fixed, bands playing and colours flying.

The parade will set off from Otley Street at 10.40am and will go up the High Street, around the roundabout and stop outside the library.

There will be a ceremony attended by Lord Crathorne, chairman of Craven District Council Paul Whitaker and Colonel Simon Newton of the Yorkshire Regiment.

Afterwards, the soldiers will march down High Street, along Swadford Street and Coach Street to Water Street, Mill Bridge, High Street and finally back to Otley Street.

Dave Parker, chief officer at Skipton Town Council, said: “Various roads will be closed from 10.30am and drivers are advised to find an alternative route.”