Sea cadets from across West Yorkshire marched through Bradford today to commemorate a famous British naval victory.

About 150 cadets from the county’s eight units paraded through the city centre streets to celebrate Trafalgar Day, in honour of Admiral Lord Nelson’s historic victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Cadets started gathering in City Park at lunchtime, where crowds formed to watch their procession to a service at Bradford Cathedral.

Some of those included some former servicemen.

Before the parade began, there was an inspection by Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, Major Stan Hardy, the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, Virginia Lloyd, and Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Khadim Hussain.

Air Cadets 44F City of Bradford Squadron led the troops along Market Street, which had been closed to traffic, followed by each of the marching units.

Keighley Sea Cadets had been due to host the parade this year, but offered the honour to their Bradford colleagues because the celebration coincided with the unit’s 75th anniversary.

After the cathedral service, the cadets then paraded back to Centenary Square to march past dignitaries, before attending a reception at the Bradford Sea Cadets headquarters TS Aurora, which was named after the troop ship adopted by the citizens of Bradford during the Second World War.

The parade marks the end of Bradford Sea Cadet’s 75th anniversary year, which began with it beating 400 units from across the country to win the national Evelyn Cleverly Award.

The Lord Mayor said: “It was a real honour to welcome Sea Cadets from across West Yorkshire to Bradford to commemorate this famous battle, especially as it coincides with the 75th year of Sea Cadets in Bradford.”

The Lord Mayor’s Cadet LC Ummar Younis and the West Yorkshire Lord Lieutenant’s Sea Cadet POC Lorna Zurek, both from Bradford, both took part in the parade.