A special flag is flying from the roof of Dudley Council House this week, to honour the men and women of the armed forces.

The Armed Forces Flag has been raised from the top of the landmark building in Priory Road today.

The Mayor, Councillor Pete Lee, led a Fly the Flag civic ceremony this morning in Coronation Gardens, Dudley, which concluded with the raising of the flag on the Council House.

Dudley’s first citizen was joined by Deputy Lieutenant Richard Boot OBE as well as Wing Commander Jeremy Swann from RAF Cosford, who read the poem Our Wall by Battle of Britain pilot Flt Lt Willam Walker.

The commemorative flag will stay in place for the week leading up to Armed Forces Day, which takes place on Sunday (June 29) in the grounds of Himley Hall and Park.

The free event, run by Dudley Council, takes places from 11am to 4pm and includes a display by the West Midlands Police dog team, free vintage dance taster lessons from Time to Swing Dance, a craft and vintage fair, funfair rides, street food, vintage tearoom and much more.

In the hall there will be displays by Dudley Museum and Dudley Archives of WWII artifacts and the Brook Robinson Collection will be open on the first floor.

Out in the park there will be military displays as well as historical exhibitions recognising all conflicts and displays covering British wartime history from the Viking era through to WWII.

The day will also see the reaffirmation of the honour of Freedom of the Borough to B (SWWY) Squadron, the Royal Yeomanry by the Mayor of Dudley.

Councillor Pete Lee, Mayor of Dudley, said: “It has been an honour to lead this ceremony in Coronation Gardens today and to now see the flag flying above the council house.

“Flying the Flag symbolises our commitment to supporting the armed forces and allows us to pay our thanks to all those who serve or have served. The flag will remain in place as we prepare for our Armed Forces Day event on Sunday.

“This is a fantastic day out for all ages and I hope people will come along and join us for this hugely entertaining, free, family friendly day out with lots to see and do.”

Car parking will be charged at the reduced rate of £3.50 for the day of the event.