Commemorations have taken place across the south of England to mark 80 years since Victory in Europe (VE) Day, from remembrance ceremonies to woolly postbox toppers
Beacons were lit across the region at 21:30 BST
BBC South Today came live from a street party in Witney at 18:30
"We sang and laughed on VE Day in Trafalgar Square," centenarian from Oxfordshire tells the BBC
Stack of World War Two letters between teen lovers found in junk shop
"You've survived, the war's over," Spitfire pilot from Reading told
Some pilots had "never sat in a plane" before training, Berkshire Museum of Aviation says
Thank you for joining us on such an important and poignant day.
We're bringing our coverage of VE Day 80 from across the south of England to a close.
We'll leave you with the note left by King Charles at the grave of the Unknown Warrior: "We will never forget."
Briony Leyland
Reporting from Ringwood
The Ringwood and Burley brass band played There Will Always Be An England as a beacon was lit in Ringwood’s war memorial gardens.
There was applause as the orange flames glowed against the night sky in Hampshire.
Several hundred people had come to take part in the service of commemoration.
Earlier prayers were said for the fallen and wreaths laid.
Sue Paz
Reporting from Sherborne
The atmosphere on top of Dancing Hill for the beacon lighting ceremony in Sherborne was calm and still with just the popping of burning embers cutting through the silence.
Meanwhile, the town's abbey was lit up in red, white and blue to mark VE Day 80.
Beacons are being lit across the UK to commemorate 80 years since VE Day.
You can watch the scenes from Bishops Waltham in Hampshire on our Facebook page now., external
Kate Eagleton-Etheridge
Reporting from Bishops Waltham
Crowds have gathered with their camping chairs and picnics at the palace ruins in Bishops Waltham, Hampshire, ready for the beacon lighting this evening.
A brass band is setting the mood with wartime music and members of the Scouts and Guides will read a tribute as the beacon is lit.
We're hoping to bring it to you live on the BBC Hampshire Facebook page at 21:30 BST, external.
Image source, PA MediaCommemorations for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe are drawing to a close this evening.
After four days of events marking VE Day, the UK came together for two minutes of silence ahead of a special thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey.
King Charles led the tributes, laying a special wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior with a note vowing: "We will never forget." The Prince and Princess of Wales joined in, with Princess Catherine later laying a bouquet of flowers on the Innocent Victims' Memorial.
Events are continuing into the evening, with churches and cathedrals across the UK ringing their bells in a moment the Church of England said echoed the sounds that swept across the country in 1945.
The commemorations are culminating with a live concert - VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember - broadcast now on BBC One from Horse Guards Parade.
Banbury's High Street hosted a colourful street party to mark today's occasion.
Military vehicles, live music, games and speeches were all part of the day.
Image source, Banbury Town Council
Image source, Banbury Town Council
Image source, Banbury Town CouncilFire service staff observed the national two-minute silence at midday to mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day.
Crowds gathered for the event at fire stations and outside Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service headquarters in Eastleigh.
Image source, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service
Image source, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service
Crowds celebrating VE Day in 1945 were basking in warm sunshine, BBC South Today weather presenter Alexis Green says.
Temperatures reached 23.9C (75F) in Farnborough, Hampshire, and 22.5C (72.5F) in Oxford.
The day saw hazy sunshine and the odd shower, but it was warm for the time of year.
Dr Matthew Kidd from the University of Oxford reminds BBC South Today viewers that VE Day celebrations would have been qualified for some.
Speaking at Witney's street party this evening, he cautions: "We must remember that VE Day 80 years ago wasn't the end of the war.
"People were fighting in the Far East, people were prisoners of war over there as well.
"Also for people at home, some would have felt a great deal of sadness because of those they had lost."
On BBC South Today, live from Witney, Oxfordshire, presenter Ed Sault interviews a woman who remembers the celebrations in the town in 1945.
Gertie, who is 91, came to Witney from London as a child and never went back.
She says: "Everybody was full of vigour and pleasure and it was absolutely lovely.
"Where they found the food from, I do not know. Because everybody had plenty of food.
"At night we had a procession and they had torches and it really was a lovely sight, a memorable occasion I shall never forget."
Pat Beale sent a picture of her late husband, Mike, celebrating VE Day in Southampton 80 years ago today.
Mike remembered the day well because in a running race he hurt his leg, she said.
He attended celebrations in Clarendon Road, Shirley, but lived in nearby Cecil Avenue.
Image source, Pat BealeMike Beale, on the left of the front row, attended a street party with other children in Shirley
Join South Today presenter Ed Sault on BBC One now for the sights and sounds of VE Day celebrations in Witney, Oxfordshire.
Actor and the deputy lieutenant of Dorset, Martin Clunes, commemorated VE Day in Ferndown.
He attended an afternoon tea, which had sold out, as a special guest and Ferndown Town Council said “his presence made the event even more memorable”.
Image source, Ferndown Town CouncilMartin Clunes and Ferndown's mayor Terry Cordery attended the event on Thursday
As part of BBC programmes on VE night in 1945, BBC reporter Ralph Wightman recorded a toast to victory at a pub in Piddletrenthide, Dorset.
BBC programming on the day also included on-the-spot commentary from reporters among the crowds outside Buckingham Palace and in Piccadilly Circus in London.
BBC reporter Ralph Wightman (left) joined Dorset drinkers celebrating victory
Reading Library has shared pictures of parties held on VE Day in 1945, showing how communities came together to celebrate the end of World War Two.
Reading Borough Council will hold a civil service of remembrance and commemoration at Reading Minster from 19:00 BST.
Image source, Reading Borough CouncilResidents in Eldon Street in Reading held a special celebration 80 years ago today
Image source, Reading Borough CouncilAnother party was held by residents in Norcot Road, with some in fancy dress for the occasion
Join South Today presenter Ed Sault on BBC One at 18:30 BST for the sights and sounds of VE Day celebrations in Witney, Oxfordshire.
As the home of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth was on a war footing from the outbreak of the conflict in 1939.
It suffered massive damage from Luftwaffe air raids and was key in the planning and execution of the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
Image source, Getty ImagesPortsmouth was a prime target for the Luftwaffe and the city suffered waves of air raids
Image source, Getty ImagesPortsmouth Guildhall was bombed on 10 January 1941 - extensive damage was caused by a fire which burned for 12 hours
Image source, Getty ImagesThe air raids killed 930 people in Portsmouth - 25 were buried in a shared grave following a raid in January 1941
Image source, Getty ImagesNewly qualified Indian sailors leaving Stamshaw Training Camp in Portsmouth in 1942
Image source, Getty ImagesPortsmouth was one of the main embarkation points for troops leaving for the D-Day invasion in June 1944 - US landing craft were among the armada which was assembled at Portsmouth Harbour
Codebreaker Dorothy Walsh from Hayling Island was sworn to secrecy about her role
Dorothy Walsh, 98, was a codebreaker during World War Two, working to crack scrambled messages that had been intercepted from Germany.
She worked for Alan Turing, a mathematician who built a computer called a Bombe that helped decipher top secret messages that had been deliberately muddled by an Enigma machine.
Speaking to BBC Radio Solent from VE Day 80 celebrations on Hayling Island, Hampshire, she recalled spending her 18th birthday cracking codes.
"I knew it was important but no more than anyone else," she said.
By VE Day, she said she had already been dismantling the Bombes because they had stopped receiving codes the week before.
"We knew [the war] was over but we couldn't say anything," she said.
Ms Walsh said she celebrated the end of the war by doing the Conga in the street with a crowd of American soldiers.
Reading Museum historian Mike Cooper said it was still not known why the town was targeted
If you stand outside Reading Town Hall's entrance, you'll see damage on the doorway from a bomb that was dropped there.
It was one of four bombs that targeted the Berkshire town at teatime on 10 February 1943, in what became known as Reading's only fatal air raid.
Another bomb demolished a building in Market Arcade on Friar Street, which housed a restaurant called the People’s Pantry.
It killed 29 of the 41 people who perished that day, according to Reading Museum historian Mike Cooper.