A SMILING rainbow shone above Herefordshire as thousands of residents took time to commemorate those who died fighting for their country.

Crowds were bigger than ever in Hereford as people crammed into Cathedral Square for both Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day commemorations.

Photographer Richard Shakespeare captured the rare sight of an upside-down rainbow which appeared to be smiling over the Remembrance Parade.

Hereford Cathedral appeared red to mark the occasion along with hosting thousands of poppies in Cathedral Close to mark the deaths of soldiers.

Roads were closed in each of the market town's as Remembrance Parades were led down the streets.

Ross-on-Wye said that an increase in numbers had also attended their commemoration event and parade including MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire, Jesse Norman.

A heartfelt moment in Kington saw residents gather around the town's War Memorial which now includes the name of Lance Corporal Oliver Thomas, who died in Afghanistan in 2014, aged 26.

Services and parades also took place in Hay-on-Wye, Leominster and Ledbury alongside several smaller church services.