County prepares to mark 80th anniversary of VJ day

Thousands of people descended on the Mall in 1945 to celebrate VJ Day

Towns and villages across Northamptonshire are preparing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

The Japanese surrendered to the allied forces on 15 August 1945, bringing to an end five years of devastating conflict.

Church services will be held, flags will be raised and music will be played across the county on Friday.

One council has arranged for lamps to be lit at all of its offices.

The Japanese surrender came as a relief to many, but especially to the men of the Northamptonshire Regiment.

They had taken part in one of the most gruelling campaigns of the war - the operation to halt the Japanese entry into India.

The battles of Imphal and Kohima resulted in 16,500 casualties among the British forces while the Japanese lost more than twice that number.

There were fears that the Northamptonshire Regiment would be forced to prepare for action in Japan, but Emperor Hirohito's surrender made such a plan unnecessary.

It meant the war was now well and truly over.

Musicians entertained people during Saturday's event in Desborough

The town of Desborough near Kettering has already paid its tribute, with a picnic in the park on Saturday.

Musicians, children's rides and refreshments were on offer at the town's recreation ground.

The hot weather is disrupting some of the planned events - a beacon lighting ceremony in Long Buckby has been called off because of the risk of fire in local fields.

A two-minute silence will be observed instead in the Market Place at 12:00 BST on Friday.

Food supplies were dropped for allied prisoners released after the Japanese surrender

North Northamptonshire Council's offices in Corby, Thrapston, Kettering, Rushden and Wellingborough will be displaying red Lamp Lights of Peace lanterns on Friday.

Martin Griffiths, the leader of the Reform UK-controlled authority, said: "VJ Day reminds us of the immense bravery and resilience shown by those who served in the Far East and the Pacific.

"Their contribution was vital in securing peace."

Remembrance services are being planned in several places, including Brackley, where people will gather at the Piazza in front of the town hall at 08:45 BST.

A service is being held on Saturday at Northampton's oldest church - Holy Sepulchre

A service of remembrance and thanksgiving is planned for Daventry's war memorial at 19:00 BST on Friday.

Rushden's service takes at 11:00 BST at the war memorial, and includes a talk by former merchant navy officer and TV extra David Hawker.

There will be wartime music and further tributes at Hall Park from 20:00 BST.

The people of HIigham Ferrers will share two minutes of silence at their war memorial at 12:00 and a peace lamp will be lit.

A service marking the anniversary of the outbreak of peace will take place a day later at Holy Sepulchre Church in Northampton at 11:00 BST, while All Hallow's Church in Wellingborough pays its tribute at 15:00 BST on Sunday.