National Armed Forces Day

The Red Arrows performed a fly past during Armed Forces Day celebrations in Nottingham today.

Funding from bankers' Libor fines would be used to create a permanent memorial to the 444 British personnel killed in Afghanistan, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced.

"I can announce today that we will be taking more money off the Libor fines and putting it in to military charities including building a permanent memorial at the Staffordshire Arboretum so that we can always remember and future generations can remember those that fell and died here in Afghanistan."

During a trip to Afghanistan on Armed Forces Day, David Cameron said it was an opportunity to say "how proud we are of our armed forces and everything they do for us".

He also said funding from Libor rate-rigging fines would be put into military charities and a permanent memorial would be built at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

In terms of the political aims of the country, he said: "We want a political solution as well as making sure we have a security solution.

Mr Cameron added that it was important that the politics "enable everyone in Afghanistan to play a role in the future of their country".

This weekend thousands of people will honour the contribution made by the men and woman of Britain's Armed Forces.

Across the Midlands there will be events where people will be showing their support for the military.

Nottingham will be at the centre of the national celebrations, with tens of thousands expected to attend.

Peter Bearne reports on preparations for the military parade.

During the Second World War veteran Ray Ellis served as a gunner with the desert rats in North Africa.

Ray is now 94-years-old and remembers the events of 70 years ago as if it was yesterday.

Phil Brewster has been listening to his story.