Veterans mark end of World War II

Veterans attended the service in Bangor, County Down

Commemoration events to mark the 60th anniversary of VE and VJ Day have taken place in County Down.

A wreath-laying service was held at the war memorial in Ward Park at the British Legion War Memorial in Bangor.

Among those who laid wreaths were North Down MP Lady Sylvia Hermon and the American Consul, General Dean Pitman.

Mary Jean Eisenhower, who is the grand-daughter of the former US president, Dwight Eisenhower, also laid a wreath at the cenotaph.

As General Eisenhower he addressed some of the first D-Day troops departing for France.

The ceremony comes a day before a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London.

Mary Jean Eisenhower laid a wreath at the cenotaph

The Queen will lead the day of national remembrance on Sunday - designated as the principal day of commemoration.

Many war veterans from Northern Ireland are travelling to the capital to take part in the service.

About 265,000 British servicemen and women were killed in World War II, and tens of thousands of civilians died in the Blitz.

There will also be ceremonies to mark VJ Day - Victory over Japan - on 21 August.

VE Day, marking the date when Germany formally surrendered, was on 8 May 1945, while the Japanese surrender, marked by VJ Day, followed on 15 August of that year.