IN PICTURES: Wolverhampton and Walsall mark the 70th anniversary of VJ Day

On the afternoon of 14 August 1945, a nationwide broadcast aired by US President Truman announced Emperor Hirohito had agreed to the Potsdam Declaration, which demanded the surrender of all Japanese forces.

At midnight, the British Prime Minister Clement Atlee confirmed the news in a broadcast saying, "The last of our enemies is laid low."

The official end of the war was three months earlier with the European Axis powers surrendering.

However the formal signing of the document would occur weeks later in September. It was announced that VJ Day would be celebrated on 15 August.

In Wolverhampton a ceremony took place around midday in the Mayor's Parlour.

Lyndon Purnell, 80, Chairman of City of Wolverhampton Central Royal British Legion, said: "It is incredible to see so many people here today, former soldiers and servicemen. It is our duty and honour to respect the memory of those lost and to really think about what it meant for our country."

Deputy Mayor Barry Findlay was in attendance along with members from the RBL and the Burma Star Association.

Normandy veteran Albert Mobbs, 92, from Perton, served from 1941 to 1947 and said it was a 'pleasure' to be in the company of such heroic men. Eddie Albrecht, 90 from Willenhall, was in the 52 Squadron in Burma for three years. He believes he is only one of two remaining former squadron soldiers alive.

A series of events to mark VJ Day will be held this weekend all over the country to commemorate the sacrifices of UK soldiers who fought and died defeating Japan.

President of the Royal British Legion, Brian Fellows, 95, said: "I served in Normandy and was a DDay veteran. I've been involved in the RBL for 62 years and today marks a very special day for me and my comrades."

George Hill, 89 of Codsall, is part of the Wolverhampton Burma Star Association. He served with the 1st Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment in the Far East.

He added: "We left Burma via India and as we were arriving in Singapore the Japanese were surrendering in 1945, but they wouldn't accept that the war was over."

In Walsall veterans gathered in the town centre despite the rain, while several former servicemen of the Walsall and Bloxwich branch of the Staffordshire Regiment Association held a statutory parade outside Walsall Town Hall.

The ceremony lasted around 15 minutes and saw Walsall Mayor Angela Underhill deliver a short speech during the proceedings.

A number of Walsall town councillors also attended the parade which also included a minute's silence.