Refurbishment works completed in Rainham in time for residents to commemorate Remembrance Day

Hundreds of people were able to commemorate war heroes in Rainham after refurbishment works were completed in time for the ceremony.

Havering Council is creating a new one-way system in Rainham Village, and includes new paving slabs around the war memorial on the junction of The Broadway and Upminster Road South.

Contractors completed the paving work on Friday night and volunteers cleaned up the area in time for the service on Sunday, which was taken by Rev Henry Pradella, and Associate Rev Graham Dowling from St Helen and St Giles Church, in Rainham.

Roadworks as part of the new one-way system are still on-going.

Cllr Jeff Tucker said: “It was really overwhelming to see the amount of people who turned out, and it was a really emotional service. Despite the roadworks hundreds of people turned up, and the team worked really hard to get everything ready for it.”

The first wreath was laid by Cllr Melvin Wallace. Groups attending included Havering Police, Havering councillors, Hornchurch Sea Cadets and Rainham Town Crier Harry Matthews.