Thousands of people are expected to attend the commemorations in Folkestone marking the centenary of the First World War today.

Prince Harry will be dedicating the new Step Short memorial arch during a 90-minute ceremony over lunchtime.

Either side of the dedication at the arch, remembrance service and a two-minute silence at the war memorial at the top of the Road of Remembrance, more than 800 people will parade through the town along The Leas including military personnel from the Royal Navy, regular and territorial Armies and the RAF followed by a civilian march.

It will then lead down to the harbour via The Slope Road - as the Road of Remembrance was called before the war.

The UK declared war on Germany at 11am 100 years ago today.

The BBC is hosting one of its WW1 At Home roadshows in the harbour from 10am until 5pm and will be free to visit.

It is a family event with activities, performances and interactive sessions and people can find out more about their family connections and meet experts from the Imperial War Museum.

In the evening, there will be a concert at the Leas Cliff Hall called Keep the Home Fires Burning, beginning at 7.30pm.

Follow our live coverage of Prince Harry's royal visit here

It will feature music from the era and will end in time for the torchlight parade, again finishing at the war memorial similar to one held in 1934 to mark the phrase uttered on the eve of war by then Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey, who said: “The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our life-time.”

The town council is advising anyone wishing to take part to use their own electric torches and no naked flames.

Visitors are advised by Shepway District Council that if parking on the Rotunda or in the Lower Leas area, the cliff paths, Leas Lift and Road of Remembrance are closed and access will not be available to the upper Leas with no exit available until after 2pm.

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