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VE Day in pictures - Dorset marks 80th anniversary

Portland Town Council A man reaching up to light a beacon - a basket on a pole which is already burning well. The beacon is on top of a hill and backdrop is the coast and Chesil Beach. It is dusk and the sky is pink and orange.Portland Town Council
VE Day 80 celebrations ended with beacons lit across the UK, including at Portland, overlooking Chesil Beach and the Jurassic Coast.

VE Day celebrations came to a close across Dorset on Thursday with beacon lighting ceremonies across the county.

It followed memorial services and a two-minute silence at midday to mark 80 years since the end of World War Two in Europe.

Processions, parades, afternoon teas and concerts were among the events organised throughout the day.

In Lyme Regis there was a torchlight procession to the beach, while in Portland, a brass band played as the sunset turned the sky orange over the Jurassic Coast.

Christchurch Town Council Two rows of people holding torches and standing on a platform decorated with union flags. In front of them a woman with a microphone is singing. Her music stand is decorated with a large union flag.Christchurch Town Council
Music and singing by Lisa Locarno accompanied the beacon lighting ceremony at Christchurch Quay
Daffodil PR A procession of about 100 people carrying torches on the promenade at Lyme RegisDaffodil PR
Dorset MP Edward Morello joined the torch procession in Lyme Regis where torchbearers walked from from Langmoor and Lister Gardens to Sandy Beach
Portland Town Council A brass band playing on top of the hill at Portland overlooking Chesil Beach as the sunset turns the sky orangePortland Town Council
In Portland, Weymouth Concert Brass played as the sun set over Chesil Beach
Ferndown Town Council A smiling Martin Clunes standing next to the mayor of Ferndown, who is wearing his red ceremonial robes and chains. Clunes is wearing a suit and holding a small union flag in front of him. Behind him is a life-sized cardboard cut out of Queen Camilla and on the wall is a large portrait of Marilyn Monroe.Ferndown Town Council
Actor Martin Clunes, who is a deputy lieutenant of Dorset, joined the celebrations in Ferndown where residents enjoyed an afternoon tea
Portland Town Council A large group of people gathered around a war memorial on an area of grass. In the foreground is a road and two parked world war two-era army vehicles. It's a sunny day and the sky is blue with scattered clouds.Portland Town Council
A memorial service was held at Portland's cenotaph
DWFRS Two rows of firefighters standing outside a fire station. There are about 20 people wearing their firefighting overalls and their yellow helmets are on the floor at their feet.. Behind them the doors are open and two fire engines can be seen. DWFRS
Firefighters assembled outside Dorchester fire station to mark the two-minute silence at midday
Dorchester Town Council Five Royal Navy veterans and the mayor lined up in front of a stone monolith. In front of them is the town crier in his traditional red coat and tricorn hat, ringing a hand bell.Dorchester Town Council
In Dorchester, the national tribute was read by town crier Anthony Harrison, accompanied by mayor Robin Potter and members of the Royal Navy Association

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