THOUSANDS of people flocked to Salisbury Plain at the weekend to enjoy a series of spectacular displays put on by the area's soldiers.

Army 2002, at Larkhill, the British Army's showcase event of the year, provided two action-packed family days out, billed as 'an adventure not to be missed'.

There were helicopters, tanks, armoured vehicles, guns, bands, horses and dogs.

Arena displays included the massed bands, civil war re-enactment society The Sealed Knot, artillery through the ages, military vehicles old and new, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, military dogs and the Silver Eagles parachute display team.

But the biggest 'oohs' and 'aahs' were reserved for the firepower demonstrations.

Nearly every type of weapon in the army's inventory took part tanks, artillery and infantry, attack helicopters, transport aircraft and jet bombers.

"The audience saw, and very definitely heard, the biggest demonstration of military might ever held in Europe," said an army spokesman.