THE operator of a drone which disrupted a Remembrance Day service at Weymouth's Nothe Fort has been branded an 'absolute disgrace'.

The drone was flown over the heads of men and women paying their respects during the two-minute silence at the fort yesterday morning, and could be both seen and heard during the live stream of the service on the fort's Facebook page.

An invite-only service arranged by the town council in partnership with the fort was held at the site and streamed live so people could watch at home.

James Farquharson, chairman of Nothe Fort, said: "It’s unbelievable that someone could be that stupid to think this was acceptable. What this person did was an absolute disgrace.

"It came over during the service over the ramparts and was milling around during the service, probably around 12 or 13 feet above people's heads.

"If anyone who was performing a reading or speaking to the crowd, it would buzz around their heads and it was all anyone in attendance or watching at home could hear during the two minutes silence.

"On behalf of the town it is embarrassing to have our service of remembrance disrupted by something like that."

Nothe Fort released a statement following the service, stressing to the public that the drone was not authorised by the Nothe Fort or Weymouth Town Council

Mr Farquharson added: "It is the town of Weymouth’s opportunity to commemorate the people who gave their lives for us – and the idea that someone would have the nerve to do something like this is despicable.

"It was an astonishingly crass thing to do given the circumstances."

Police are now dealing with the incident and investigating whether drone flying laws were broken.

With a second lockdown now in place in England, the government had been encouraging councils to ensure remembrance services were short, entirely outdoors and held in front of limited numbers.

With this in mind, Weymouth's annual Service of Remembrance went ahead at the fort with limited numbers and residents were encouraged to follow proceedings online.

The full service can still be found on the Nothe Fort Facebook page.