Bathed in sunlight, Trebah Gardens was the perfect setting for around 800 people to witness a military memorial day on Saturday.

Trebah Military Day brought together the Royal Cornwall Branch of the Parachute Regiment Association, the Military Vehicles Trust and the Cornwall Caledonian Pipe and Drum Band, who performed through the gardens and on the beach. Nigel Burnett, general manager, said: "It was super. It was a very nice day all round."

As part of the event, which was open to the public, the band presented the gardens with two musical scores, composed especially for them - Dream of Trebah and Trebah March. They then performed the scores, which was the first time they had been played at Trebah.

Participants later made their way down to the beach, where two wreaths, dedicated to the Twenty Ninth US Infantry Division and the Allied Airborne Forces, were laid on the gardens' war memorials.

World War Two military vehicles were used to ferry people down to the beach from the house.

Also during the event, Trebah's owner, Major Tony Hibbert - father of Mawnan parish councillor Chris Hibbert - launched his latest book, called Trebah, My Story.

The book features Mr Hibbert's views of Trebah in the past, present and future. He purchased the gardens in a neglected state in 1981 and renovated them to their present glory, before passing them on to the Trebah Gardens Trust 12 years ago.

In exchange for the scores, Mr Hibbert presented the band with some banners for their pipes.