ROYAL British Legion and ex-Service Association standards fluttered proudly in the breeze as Salisbury and district paid homage to its Second World War dead at a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of VE Day on Sunday.

The Guildhall Square event was a far cry from the street partying and euphoric flag-waving that greeted the end of the war in Europe in 1945.

But there was nostalgia and great poignancy as veterans, wearing their campaign medals, paraded along Blue Boar Row to the music of Wilton and District Youth Band and made their way to the war memorial.

They were accompanied by army, RAF and sea cadets, St John Ambulance volunteers, firefighters and eight ex-servicemen bikers from Patriots UK.

At the memorial they were joined - in full regalia - by the Mayor of Salisbury, Councillor Jeremy Nettle, and his wife Sue, the mayoress, as well as past mayors and chartered trustees and mace-bearers.

During a short service, conducted by the Reverend Charles Hatton, Rector of the city's St Thomas's Church, wreaths were laid by the mayor and Second World War veteran Harry Drake.

This was followed a two-minute silence, signalled by the Last Post and ended with Reveille - both sounded by youth band bugler Di Bartlett.

A crowd of about 250 gathered to witness the ceremony, which was briefly threatened by a burst of rain before the sun broke through to shine on proceedings.

The commemoration was organised by the Royal British Legion, whose Wiltshire and Salisbury branches had stalls in the adjoining Market Square where there were also displays of wartime memorabilia.

St John and the Royal Berkshire, Gloucestershire & Wiltshire Regiment had stands at the event and the Army Cadets erected a climbing rock to keep adventurous children entertained.