The distinctive red berets of the Parachute Regiment will be worn with pride when York Minster hosts a special Millennium service to honour airborne forces.

The service of rededication at on Sunday at 2pm is the last of four services held across the country to rededicate airborne forces to "God, Queen, Country and all Humanity".

Taking part will be more than 1,000 airborne veterans with more than 40 standards from the northern branches of The Parachute Regimental Association.

They will be joined by a detachment of regular soldiers, from "the Paras", who are currently training at Catterick, along with the commanding officer and a platoon from the Territorial Army's 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, based in Pudsey, and a detachment of young men and women from the Army Foundation College at Harrogate.

Army Cadets from Driffield, Air Training Corps members from Pocklington School and Sea Cadets from Hull will also attend.

The Lord Mayor of York, Coun Shan Braund, will give a reading at the service, as will guest of honour, Brigadier James Hill DSO MC, now in his 90th year, who commanded the 3rd Parachute Brigade from 1943 to 1946.

He and Coun Braund will take the salute at a march past after the service.

The Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire will also attend the service as will a host of high ranking officers from airborne and other forces.

The King's Division Waterloo Band will play before the service and will also entertain guests at a reception afterwards at the Yorkshire Air Museum, at Elvington.