A BATTLE of Britain parade was held by the 1036 Bury Squadron of the Air Training Corps on Sunday.

More than 40 cadets and the Squadron Band took part in the parade to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the battle, which was followed by a special memorial service at Bury Parish Church conducted by the Reverend Canon Ian McVeety.

The parade fell in at Bury Town Hall before setting off en route to the Parish Church at 11.30am.

Following a church service, the parade formed in the memorial gardens on the north side of the church to place wreaths on the Royal Air Force Memorial and the memorial plaque in tribute to the three Bury ATC Cadets who died in a helicopter crash in North Wales in 1993.

Later, the parade marched down the Rock before returning to the front of Castle Armoury for its dismissal.

The salute was taken by Wing Commander David Forbes, Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester.

Afterwards, refreshments were served in the Blackburne Hall at the rear of the church by members of the Squadron’s Committee.

On September 15, 1940, the German Air Force, the Luftwaffe, launched a large-scale attack on Royal Air Force aircraft in a bid to destroy Britain’s Air Defence.

This prompted the deployment of the entire RAF, who dispersed the Luftwaffe, signalling the first of many decisive victories for the Allies.

The date became known as Battle of Britain day and is commemorated across the UK every year.