One of Britain's most famous wartime victories was remembered at a special thanksgiving parade in Cornwall at the weekend.

The Battle of Trafalgar, a significant sea fight against the joint French and Spanish forces, took place back in 1805.

On Sunday, despite warnings of severe weather from Storm Ashley, RNAS Culdrose's sailors marched through the village streets of Madron, near Penzance, to commemorate the event and pay tribute to Lord Nelson.

They were joined by the HMS Seahawk Volunteer Band, a guard, a colour party, a group of trainees, and members of the Sea Cadets, Royal Naval Association, and the Royal British Legion.

(Image: Penzance Council) The parade's destination was St Maddern's Church, where the first thanksgiving service had been held more than two centuries ago, just days after the historic battle.

Organised by Madron Parish Council, the event is always held on the Sunday closest to October 21, the date of the 1805 victory where the outnumbered British fleet triumphed under Lord Admiral Nelson's command.

The story recounts that following the Battle of Trafalgar, the topsail schooner HMS Pickle set sail for Falmouth, relaying the news of victory and Lord Admiral Nelson's death to fishermen in Mount’s Bay.

The fishermen promptly returned to Penzance and informed the town mayor, Thomas Giddy, who led a procession to Madron Parish Church.

Here, the Nelson Banner, hastily prepared to mourn Nelson's death, was paraded for the first time.

This banner is now kept in Madron Parish Church and paraded each year at this memorial service to his ‘Immortal Memory’.

(Image: Penzance Council) At the Trafalgar and Nelson Thanksgiving Parade this year, mayor of Penzance Stephen Reynolds said: "Trafalgar Day is a unique and special event, and a reminder not only of the close historical ties between Madron and Penzance, but also of our small but significant role in British naval history with the first announcement of the death of Nelson and the victory of Trafalgar.

"Madron Parochial Church Council and Parish Council deserve great credit for keeping this tradition alive, and for me personally, it’s always an honour and a pleasure to be invited to the 'mother church' of Penzance overlooking Mounts Bay."

(Image: Penzance Council) After the thanksgiving service in Madron Parish Church, the parade marched past Landithy Hall, where commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose, Captain Stuart Irwin, took the salute.

The mayor of Penzance was joined at the Trafalgar Day event by councillors Joan Beveridge, Bonnie Jackson, and Penny Young.