COMMUNITIES will be turning out in force this weekend to pay theirs respects to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to secure and protect our freedom.

It is a significant first for the new Cumbrae Parish Church which will be hosting its first ever Remembrance service on Sunday after opening in January.

In Largs, Royal British Legion Scotland is organising this year's street parade which includes local boys' and girls' brigade troops, emergency and voluntary service personnel.

It starts off at 10.30am from Crawford Street on Remembrance Sunday.

A short service follows at the War Memorial, starting at around 10.45am, conducted by Reverend Dr Graham McWilliams.

There will be a two minute silence at 11am, before a service at St Columba's Parish Church.

The legion's Millport branch will join with organisations and members of the local community in a national act of Remembrance at 11am.

A parade will meet at Quayhead, Millport from 10.15am and will march at 10.40am, led by a band formed by the RBLS Isle of Cumbrae and Millport Pipe Bands. A short service will be held at the cenotaph on Guildford Street with a two minute silence at 11am.

Services will follow at Cumbrae Parish Church, The Cathedral of the Isles and Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.

Millport Royal British Legion chairman Scott Watson said: "This will be the first Remembrance Sunday service at the new church, and as such the old branch colours that traditionally dressed the memorial in the previous church building will be returned to dress the memorial in its new home.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked to ensure this is a united, act of remembrance for the whole community."

On Monday, Millport will also be hosting a short service and act of Remembrance at the cenotaph at 11am.

Fairlie Parish Church's Remembrance Service takes place on Sunday at 9.45am.

Inverkip hosts a service of Remembrance at Inverkip Church from 10.45am, followed by a parade and wreath laying at the war memorial, led by the uniformed organisations.

A morning service takes place at Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay Parish Church at 10.45am with a service at the memorial at noon.

In West Kilbride, the Community Association are having a permanent Armistice memorial piece placed in the community centre gardens on Saturday at noon.

Community Association director Steven Barclay said: "The piece itself was funded by a grant from the council's legacy fund and a private donation.

"We are placing a piece at a location in the village away from the main road that is easily accessible for people who have mobility issues as well as something that the local school children can readily access to use as a learning tool.

"Secondly we see the piece as a good starting point to celebrate the start of the next 100 years of remembering Armistice Day."

West Kilbride Parish Church's Remembrance service takes place at 10.30am.

On Saturday, the Clyde Coast & Garnock Valley Crematorium is opening its doors for a very special and inclusive Service of Remembrance.

The service is open to all, regardless of faith and beliefs and backgrounds, and is being led by Jennifer Buchan, Humanist Chaplin from the University of Strathclyde.

The service begins at 11am.