BRITAIN'S top soldier is to visit Essex on Saturday to take part in local Armed Forces Day celebrations.

Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt will join veterans and serving soldiers parading on Southend High Street as part of the event, which will also include an aerial display by the Red Arrows.

He is expected to take the salute on Pier Hill and make presentations to the local veterans taking part in the parade.

Southend Council leader Nigel Holdcroft said: “General Dannatt being there is great news and an honour for the town.

“It will make the event that bit more special, especially for the veterans.”

Ex-serviceman Arthur Holgate, 77, of London Road, Westcliff, will be one of the Southend veterans joining in the celebrations on Saturday.

He said: “It’s brilliant news the Chief of the General Staff will be there on Saturday.

“It’s good to have somebody who knows what it’s all about, so I’m very pleased he will be there.”

Chelmsford-born Gen Dannatt was commissioned into the Green Howards after graduating from Durham University in 1971.

He was promoted to Chief of the General Staff in 2006.

The day will also feature seafront Armed Forces survival of fittest, masterchef and tug-of-war competitions and performances by a military band and the Southend High School for Boys Band.

The RAF’s Red Arrows Display Team will be flying past at about 4.45pm.

For more details about the Southend celebrations, call 01702 215175.

A special Armed Forces Day flag has been created and was simultaneously raised in towns the length of the land yesterday ahead of Saturday’s nationwide celebration.

In Colchester, veterans and serving service personnel witnessed a ceremony at the Town Hall. There were similar events in other Essex towns including Basildon and Maldon.

On Armed Forces Day itself, Clacton Town Hall will host a tea party for the town’s veterans.

On Sunday, Colchester mayor Henry Spyvee will be presenting commemorative badges to local women who served as Land Girls during the Second World War.