Remembrance Sunday: VIDEO AND PICTURES from today's services and parades across the Midlands

Services were held across the Black Country and Staffordshire as thousands gathered around cenotaphs and memorials to reflect on the sacrifices made during two worlds wars and other conflicts around the world.

Hundreds of people came out to pay their respects and join the two minute silences held at 11am.

Town centres came alive as the drum beats signalled the arrival of the many parades. But as the clock struck 11am, the noise stopped.

The hustle and bustle of Wolverhampton city centre came to a brief standstill as the Band of the Mercian Regiment led a march through the streets.

The procession began from Princes Square at 10.35am, heading along Lichfield Street towards St Peter's Square where the main ceremony was held.

Veterans, current members of the armed forces and cadets were joined by the hundreds of observers who gathered near the Civic Centre offices for the service.

Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Barry Findlay gave a speech and laid a wreath during the service.

He said: "It was a very proud moment to lead the Remembrance service. We had a fantastic service, one of the largest we have had in recent times."

It may have been one of the largest services in the West Midlands but it was not the only event held in and around the city.

There were impressive turnouts at events in Wednesfield, Lanesfield and Bilston.

More than 3,000 people turned out in Dudley, where a parade left Vicar Street at 10.30am, marching through the town centre to the sound of Land of Hope and Glory to arrive at the Cenotaph on Ednam Road for 11am.

The Last Post rang out and the standard bearers proudly held flags aloft before the two minutes' silence.

Mayor of Dudley Councillor Mohammed Hanif and Dudley North MP Ian Austin were among those to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph.

A large crowd descended on Mary Stevens Park in Stourbridge as a service was held at the park's war memorial.

Other Remembrance events were held in the Dudley borough, including at St James' Church in Gornal and St Peter's Church in Cradley.

Parades were held across Sandwell, with major events at Dartmouth Park in West Bromwich and outside Smethwick Council House.

A large crowd also packed into Tipton's Victoria Park to get a view of proceedings around the war memorial.

A marching band also made its way through Wednesbury.

Deputy leader of the Labour Party and West Bromwich East MP was among those at the service in Dartmouth Park. He was pictured with 95-year-old veteran Ernie, who served in Normandy and Burma.

There was a healthy crowd gathered around the war memorial in Oldbury, where a parade arrived for 11am after setting off from the Low Town car park.

Mayor of Sandwell Councillor Julie Webb was in attendance at a poignant service at the Powke Lane Cemetery in Rowley Regis.

A parade left the Highgate Street car park in Old Hill at 10.25an and made its way to the cemetery ready for the service.

In Walsall, the procession left the council house, winding its way through the town centre to the Cenotaph in Bradford Place.

Pelsall's Cenotaph was decorated in poppy wreaths as locals joined veterans in remembering the fallen.

A parade marched through the streets of Bloxwich to the war memorial, where the service was followed by readings and the singing of the national anthem.

There was no shortage of Remembrance events across the borough, with people turning out in Willenhall, Aldridge, Brownhills, Streetly and Short Heath.

The streets of Cannock also came alive to the sound of a marching band as the procession headed from Stafford Road to the Cenotaph where wreaths were laid.

Services were also held in Norton Canes, Hednesford and Rugeley.

There was a large turnout in Victoria Square in Stafford town centre as a parade arrived at the war memorial.