Cheltenham will mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day and the end of the Second World War with a short ceremony at the town's war memorial.

The ceremony, led by Rev Clare Dyson, will take place at the memorial outside the Municipal Buildings in the Promenade at 11am on Saturday, August 15 - the anniversary of Japan's surrender which ended the conflict in 1945.

Councillor Roger Whyborn, leader of Cheltenham Borough Council, will attend along with chief executive Gareth Edmundson and Bernard Fisher, president of the Royal British Legion's Cheltenham branch, with chairman and standard bearer Roy Roberts.

Mr Roberts said: "We are very pleased to support this important ceremony.

"Sadly, it's not possible to involve our some of our local World War Two veterans in the ceremony as they are all in their 90s and in one case over 100 years old, but they will be very much in our thoughts and our grateful thanks on the day."

The ceremony will pay tribute to surviving veterans of the Far East campaign and the service personnel from across the UK and Commonwealth who died in the conflict.

Members of the public are invited to observe from the surrounding spaces while maintaining social distancing and a video of the event will be posted on the council's YouTube channel after the ceremony.

Mr Whyborn said: "It's important to remember VJ Day as it represents the real end of the Second World War, three months after the end of hostilities in Europe, while battles continued to run in the far east.

"Many service people continued to make sacrifices for their country in the Far East. By commemorating VJ Day, we are able to demonstrate how their sacrifices are not forgotten."