Thousands throughout Worcestershire celebrated the day peace returned to a war-weary Europe 60 years after VE day.

In Pershore people lined the streets to watch a parade by 350 veterans.

In Worcester, 20 veterans marched to the cenotaph, while Droitwich took a trip back to the 1940s with a parade, a Spitfire flypast and a wartime wedding.

Meanwhile, Colwall man Arthur Birtles, 83, who took part in the Arctic convoys, is due to meet the Duke of York today at a memorial in Russia.

SECOND World War Veterans were out in force over the weekend to mark the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe.

In Worcester an estimated 20 veterans - some on mobility scooters - paraded through the heart of the city yesterday morning from the Cornmarket to the Cenotaph at Worcester Cathedral.

Crowds dotted with flag-waving patriots waited to see the heroes gather at the Cenotaph for a service and the laying of a wreath by John Hewlett, president of the Worcester branch of the Royal British Legion.

A lone bugler - Chris Yeomans of the Worcestershire Youth Band - then played The Last Post before the veterans returned to the RBL club in Worcester.

Mr Hewlett said: "It's wonderful to be here but I'm thinking of the men who we lost in the Pacific against the Japanese. I saw so many of my friends drowned and bombed.

"It may be a celebration but as far as I'm concerned, this is why I always take part in remembering."

Among those present were were Mayor Allah Ditta and Worcestershire County Council chairman Derek Prodger.

"I'm a Worcester person and lost members of my family in two world wars. I'm here to show respect," said Coun Prodger.

"We shouldn't forget what those people did to save this country because it's allowed us to live peacefully ever since."

In Droitwich, scores of people in 1940s costume marked the occasion on Saturday and Sunday with events including a Home Guard Parade, a Battle of Britain Spitfire flypast, a DC3 flyover, and a speech by a Sir Winston Churchill look-alike.

There was also a service of remembrance in the town yesterday and a string of other events.

And also yesterday, in one of the biggest events, more than 350 serving officers joined a parade through the streets of Pershore, led by the Dartmouth-based Royal Marines' band, followed by a service at Pershore Abbey.

MALVERN is due to mark the end of the Second World War with a parade and special ceremony in the town's Priory Park on Sunday, July 10.