AROUND 70 people including a number of service veterans attended a service and wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial outside Pontllanfraith House, Pontllanfraith, this afternoon.

The sun briefly made an appearance during an impeccably observed two minutes' silence on what was otherwise a damp and overcast afternoon.

More than a dozen wreaths were laid at the ceremony, which in Pontllanfraith is traditionally held on the Saturday before Remembrance Sunday.

Those laying wreaths included Mayor of Caerphilly county borough councillor Dianne Price, Islwyn MP Chris Evans, the Blackwood and District branch of the Royal British Legion, the Blackwood Detachment of the Gwent and Powys Air Cadet Force, Pontllanfraith Women's Institute, Gwent Police, the Islwyn branch of the Regimental Association of the Royal Welsh, and Pontllanfraith primary school.

The ceremony was followed by a service of remembrance at St Augustine's Church.