Official events have finished in Jersey and while the party continues in Guernsey that's the end of our coverage.

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After a day filled with remembrance, rain and music, the annual day has come to a close in Jersey.

Children of the occupation enjoyed breakfast at St Helier town hall before joining others at Liberation Square.

Rain did not stop the celebrations from going ahead, where islanders who were alive during Liberation Day gathered alongside family and friends.

People came to honour lives lost, and to remember Jersey as it rebuilt from the occupation.

Military personnel, including war veterans and navy and army cadets marched to the Weighbridge to continue the festivities.

Accompanying them with music was the Band of the Island of Jersey.

Those standing by also got to enjoy a drive by of old military vehicles, decorated in the Jersey and Union flags.

There was also a first for the Liberation Day celebrations as the island's rugby team, the Jersey Reds, paraded through on an open-top bus after winning the Championship League title in April.

Four generations of families related to forced workers gathered to lay wreaths at the Slave and Forced Workers Memorial at Westmount.

The island will look to come together again for the 79th anniversary in 2024. Fingers crossed for better weather!

After services of remembrance and the laying of wreaths at memorials across the island the focus of Liberation Day has moved to celebrations of freedom.

Events are taking place into the evening in St Pierre du Bois, St Andrew and St Peter Port, with the last culminating in a firework display at 21:15.

The visitors book from HMS Beagle is one of the treasured objects held in the Jersey Archive.

The ship was moored just outside St Helier harbour on the morning of 9 May 1945 - it was there that the surrender of the island was signed and islanders regained their freedom.

Archives and Collections Director for Jersey Heritage Linda Romeril said it symbolised an end to five long years of occupation.

"The visitors book of the Beagle is a significant document for the people of Jersey as it is the place where the people of Jersey regained their freedom from the occupying forces,” she said.

A service has taken place at the Slave and Forced Workers Memorial at The Crematorium Grounds, Westmount, Jersey.

This civilian-organised ceremony is a tribute to those who were taken from their homes and forced to work in the German Occupation.

Four generations of family members related to the forced workers attended - some travelling from New Jersey in the United States of America, and wreaths were laid by them.

Organiser of the ceremony Gary Font, son of Spanish Republican forced worker Francisco Font, said the ceremony continued to be relevant.

Before the ceremony he said it was important "to stand together with community and religious leaders, organisations and individuals to acknowledge their suffering and honour the memory of all slave and forced workers who never made it home."

The Bailiff Sir Timothy Le Cocq laid a wreath on behalf of the people of Jersey.

Image source, Paula Wickham

Among the many groups of ex-pats marking Liberation Day was a group celebrating their Guernsey roots in King's Park in Perth, Western Australia, on Sunday.

Organiser Tania Walden, who has lived in Australia for 32 years, said: "Liberation Day is an important part of my history and culture and who I am.

"My Dad was an evacuated child of the war. My mum was born in Guernsey during the war. It’s important to remember and celebrate Liberation Day wherever in the world we may be."

Yolan and Graham Slater have lived in Australia for 43 years and said celebrating Liberation Day was a good chance to "catch up with friends and to remember this important part of Guernsey history".

Image source, Paula Wickham

An Australian resident for 36 years, Neville Thoume said: "Both my parents were evacuated to England in their teens, in those war years.

"I enjoyed my first 32 years of life in Guernsey. My main memories of Liberation Day in Guernsey was taking my trade Carpentry/Joinery, City and Guilds exams, with the St Joseph's church bells ringing to celebrate Liberation - as it wasn’t a holiday in England - and also playing in the football Muratti against Jersey."

The military vehicles, motorbikes, classic cars and vintage tractors that took part in the 2023 Guernsey Liberation Day cavalcade have now taken up places along the seafront.

They will be in place for a static display until 17:00.

Children of the occupation have remembered the day Jersey was liberated.

Anne Nicole teared up when remembering Liberation Day.

She said: “I remember going down to the Pomme D’Or and standing outside, that’s still vivid in my mind to this day.

“It was electrifying, you just can’t imagine how one felt.”

John Baxter Marett was six years old when the island was liberated.

Since then he has stuck to the same tradition.

He said: “Every Liberation Day since, I’ve stood in the same place at 11 o’clock since 1945.

“Seeing the troops land, throwing sweets out the Pomme D’Or… and the food parcels, having oranges which we hadn’t seen before.”

Matthew Price
BBC Radio Jersey

Those looking for a moment of peace and reflection have been made welcome in St Peter’s Church in Jersey.

Visitors have been enjoying the church's Liberation Flower Festival all weekend.

A total of 25 parishioners created displays reflecting peace and reconciliation.

There are examples of wartime memorabilia on show, and a chance to learn about the experience of the farming community during the occupation.

Chris Stone
BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey’s chief minister and bailiff both remembered occupation hero Bob Le Sueur MBE in their Liberation Day speeches.

Mr Le Sueur, who saved escaped Russian and Ukrainian slave workers at great risk to himself, died in November at the age of 102.

He was recognised as an important historian of the occupation, together with Joe Mière and Michael Ginns.

Bailiff Sir Timothy Le Cocq said the world should learn from people like Mr Le Sueur about how history informs the present.

Shortly before he died, Mr Le Sueur walked laps of his garden to raise money for the relief effort in Ukraine.

The Chief Minister Deputy Kristina Moore said he had been a great story teller, who did so much to ensure the experiences of the occupation were remembered.

She said he had a unique place in the island’s history – and would never be forgotten.

Following the Jersey Liberation Day church service, each of the groups involved assembled in Liberation Square to march to the Weighbridge, as the gathered crowd applauded and cheered.

Warren Muggleton
Sports reporter

Paraded in town, showered in confetti, heaped with applause Jersey Reds’ bus stopped at Pomme D’Or to a huge display of red and white confetti with smoke in front of the crowds.

Lieutenant Governor Vice Adm Jerry Kyd congratulated the team as director of rugby Harvey Biljon, captain Lewis Wynne and chairman Mark Morgan showed off the trophy on stage.

A day that will live long in the memories of these Reds staff, players and coaches after a sensational Championship season, but who knows...

If they win the Championship Cup final against Ealing Trailfinders on Saturday, they could be boarding another bus for further celebrations.

Image source, Denise Paisnel

An islander has shared a story her father told of the German Occupation in Jersey.

Lewis and Fred Paisnel were children during the war – both are now deceased.

Lewis’ daughter Linda said her father, uncle and their friends were given chocolate by the occupying soldiers, and when his mother found out "she said they were just fattening him up to eat him" – a tale told to children to dissuade them from becoming too friendly with the occupying forces.

She said: "He never went back for any chocolate after that!"

Maureen St George, 89, was in Liberation Square 78 years ago.

She remembers the soldiers throwing sweets into the crowd.

"I hadn’t seen sweets in five years, I can’t describe the feeling.

"It’s so important to come and celebrate every year - I’ve been coming for 50 years."

It is foggy out west but the cavalcade has started its journey from Torteval to St Peter Port - check the route and approximate timings.

BBC Guernsey reporter Zoe Collins said the rain was also falling so "spare a thought for those with open-topped vehicles".

A tea party with music and Morris dancing has been held at the Last Post, St Andrew, as part of the parish events to mark Guernsey's Liberation Day.

During the afternoon and evening live music will be put on by the Vale Earth Fair.

Vehicles have driven off along the Esplanade as part of the celebrations of Jersey's Liberation Day.

Those taking part include former military vehicles, including an ambulance, and classic cars.

More than 100 vehicles - including former military, classic cars and vintage tractors will take part in the 2023 Liberation Day Cavalcade.

It follows a different route this year - starting at Torteval Church at 13:10 and aiming to finish in town before 15:00 with a static display of those involved along the seafront until 17:00.

Organised by the Cavalcade Committee, which includes representatives from the Guernsey Military Vehicle Group, Guernsey Old Car Club and The Vintage and Classic Tractor Club.

Image source, States of Guernsey

BBC Radio Guernsey

Three islanders share stories of how the occupation of the Channel Islands impacted them and their families.

Freddie Miller
BBC Jersey political reporter

The rain has become slightly heavier, so some people are seeking shelter at Liberation Station.

Others continue to brave the elements, though, as they stand under a sea of umbrellas while the familiar sounds of Beautiful Jersey echo through the air.

Period vehicles have begun to line up along the Esplanade.