THE Remembrance Day service in Poole Park on Sunday has been branded a "shambles" after the national two-minute silence was held 15 minutes late. 

"Dozens" of people reportedly left the event early in "disgust" with the timings of the event described described as "terrible".

The two-minute silence, which is commemorated every year at 11am, was delayed after a "technical issue", BCP Council said. 

Richard Rooney said: "What a shambles the Remembrance Day service was, a beautiful day, a beautiful setting but the organisation fell woefully short.

"We were standing very close to a group of ex-marines and they were horrified.

"Both my parents and both my grandparents served in the war, it’s just unacceptable really.

"We were so disenchanted with the whole thing we left not too long.

"The sound system was also very poor, it was just poorly organised, it's such an important day and it's a shame this isn't the way it was treated."

Morris Tombs, 60, the owner of The Foundry Arms pub in Poole, said: "I’m disgusted at the lack of respect that was shown on Sunday.

"In this pub, there’s massive respect for the military.

"I've never seen anything like it, people were walking out in anger, Remembrance Day is one of the biggest days of the year and you would think the day you would make sure you are not late for."

Mayor of Poole Cllr Tony Trent who took part in the ceremony said he "shares the upset" caused by the delay of the service. 

Cllr Tony Trent said: "I share the upset, all the charter trustees and myself and everyone were lined up at 10.30am waiting.

"I think there were a lot of difficulties organising it this year because the Poole Civic Centre that is usually used wasn’t available but that still doesn’t explain what the delay was."

A BCP Council spokesperson said: “This event is led by dedicated volunteers and we understand that one of them experienced a technical issue at the formation point of the parade. This led to the main parade departing late.

“Unfortunately, this had an effect on the timings at the Annual Service of Remembrance at the War Memorial in Poole Park yesterday.

“The veterans and volunteers involved, who always make the event so special, completed the service and observed two minutes of silence at 11.15am.

“We have the utmost respect for the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces and emergency services, from Britain and the Commonwealth, that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life and apologise sincerely for the problems that caused the delay.”