MORE THAN 10,000 people attended the annual Dundee Military Show at Camperdown Park yesterday.

The invasion by soldiers, sailors, airmen and Royal Marines has become a popular day out for many families and gives the armed forces the chance to “display their wares,” said show co-ordinator Major Crawford Maclellan.

“It has been a fantastic day and has been well supported by the people of Dundee,” he said. “It shows what the armed forces are all about.

“As well as meeting operational requirements around the world, at the moment mainly in the two theatres of Iraq and Afghanistan, the armed forces offer a variety of trades, and events like this give a flavour of the type of employment opportunities and professions they can offer.”

However, while providing a “shop window” for the armed services, the show was far from being a recruitment event, Major Maclellan said. “The priority is to have a fun day for all the family.”

The opening of the show by deputy lord provost Charles Farquhar was marked by the firing of a 105mm light gun by 19 Regiment, Royal Artillery, followed by the combined pipes and drums of 7SPD, Tayforth UOTC and ACF, with the military band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Highlights included demonstrations by the Flying Gunners motor cycle display team, the Golden Lions freefall parachute display team, a mock infantry battle and displays of unarmed combat by the Royal Marines.

Visitors could also experience a range of forces-related simulators and try their hands at laser shooting.