A PLEA for peace was made at the Remembrance Day Service in Dorchester.

And organisers said they felt a larger crowd than in previous years had turned out because of the fraught international situation.

After the traditional parade led by the Mayor of Dorchester, Councillor Wally Gundry, people made their way to the war memorial for the service.

The mayor's chaplain, the Reverend Inez Scott gave the address and described the terrorist attacks in America on September 11 as a day when 'all hell was let loose and the dogs of war unleashed'.

She spoke of how her own uncle had suffered from nightmares all his life after serving in the trenches during the First World War One how after each major war, everyone had hoped that the peace would last.

She added: "I would guess that all of us here are apprehensive about what we do now. Will we find ourselves in a war situation yet again?

"The answer must lie in the fact when evil strikes, it must be overcome. We pray with all our hearts that this time the conflict between good and evil will be swift, just and merciful."

Coun Gundry laid the first wreath and was followed by many others, including Dorchester Police Chief Inspector Andy Mason and representatives of the Red Cross, St John Ambulance, Thomas Hardye School, Dorchester Prison and Dorchester Rotary Club.

Coun Gundry also led a memorial service at the German War Memorial in Fordington later that afternoon.

Ray Voss, chairman of the county town's Royal British Legion, said: "It went very well today. The number of people coming along seems to be building up each year, though we did expect more this year because of international troubles.

"This is also the first year that we have had a uniformed member of the Wessex Yeomanry here."

After the service, the parade, which included members of the Air Training Corps, the Scouts and Guides, Dorchester Carnival Band, and the Dorset Regiment Association, made its way back through the town.

Meanwhile, youngsters from Dorchester were marching through London to pay their respects.

The town's Boys' Brigade was only one of seven or eight companies in the UK to join the traditional ceremony at the Cenotaph with members of the Royal Family and Government figures.

It is the first time the Dorchester company have been invited and captain Tony Day described it as a 'tremendous honour'.