HUNDREDS of war veterans and serving soldiers converged on Newcastle at the weekend to pay tribute to fallen comrades on the 25th anniversary of the Falklands war - the largest event of its kind outside London.

The city centre came to a standstill as more than 400 Royal Navy, Army, Marines and RAF personnel took part in a parade as part of the conflict's silver anniversary commemoration.

The event began with a service at St Thomas the Martyr Church, where the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Councillor Peter Arnold, and many commanding officers and civil dignitaries took part in a two-minute silence.

Troops were then inspected outside the Civic Centre by Nigel Sherlock, Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear.

Coun Arnold said: "The Falklands conflict was a very important chapter in our history and involved many servicemen and women from Newcastle and the whole region.

"Today gives the people of the North-East an opportunity to thank those who took part in this and other conflicts around the world."

The parade included personnel from HMS Bulwark - one of the Royal Navy's biggest warships, which is affiliated to County Durham.

Also marching were the pipes and drums from the 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment and members of the Tyneside-based HMS Calliope Royal Navy Reserve unit.

Lieutenant David Crawley, 46, of HMS Bulwark, who was one of the Falklands veterans attending the parade, was on board HMS Sheffield when it was attacked by the Argentinian Navy on May 4, 1982.

He said: "That's a day I will never forget. I was an engineer doing my rounds and, there but for the grace of God, I was in the aft engine and not the fore engine, which took the impact of the missile.

"I wasn't injured at all but, when we came out of the engine room, two deck was full of smoke, so we had to crawl out.

"I'm still here, but today isn't about my experiences.

"It's about remembering the others we didn't bring back - we lost 20 people that day."

The parade concluded with a civic reception, where new recipients of the Armed Forces Veterans Badge were presented with their award by the Mr Sherlock.