Thousands celebrate VJ Day anniversary at Churchill's birthplace

More than 2,000 musicians, schoolchildren, veterans and serving soldiers joined in the Last Parade in Glasgow, marching from Blythswood Square to George Square, where a service of remembrance was held for 600 of the men killed in the war.

More than 25,000 visitors gathered in the grounds of Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, to recapture the spirit of wartime Britain with music, dance and songs from the 1940s.

Vintage Spitfires, Hurricanes and Mustangs were on show, and the RAF's Red Arrows swooped and dived in a display of air acrobatics.

A swing concert was held last night, featuring classic Forties hits from Glenn Miller such as "Moonlight Serenade", "In The Mood" and "Pennsylvania 65000".

Lord Blandford, one of the festival's organisers, said of the soldiers who risked their lives for their country: "In this VJ Day 60th anniversary year every opportunity must be taken to acknowledge their contribution."

"What we hope to create is a living tribute to wartime Britain and to the millions of men and women who served all over the world and at home," he told the BBC.

Japan's surrender came days after the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed by atomic bombs, which killed 200,000 people.