A THREE-DAY-LONG celebration including a picnic in the park, concert and costumes is planned to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

People in Hexham are already preparing plans for commemorations in May this year.

When VE Day dawns on Friday, May 8, it will be 75 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe.

The early May bank holiday has been moved to the Friday, creating a three-day international celebration, with events planned across the UK and other countries.

In Hexham, Sunday, May 10 will see a picnic in the park, including a 1940s band, costume reenactments and a 1940s fancy dress competition.

At Hexham Town Council’s meeting on Monday, councillors said they hoped it would be a family-friendly event with people staying in the park all afternoon, and various events filling the day.

On Friday, May 8, Tynedale Rotary is organising a commemorative concert at Hexham Abbey which will raise funds for Walking with the Wounded and North East Veterans .

This will form part of the National VE Day 75th anniversary with the Abbey bells ringing out at 7pm along with those across the country, as they did on VE Day.

It is thought there will be various other events planned locally across the weekend, with Prudhoe planning to hold a family party.

At 3pm on May 8, thousands of pipers around the world will play Battle’s O’er, a traditional air performed on the bagpipes at the end of a battle, and the specially composed tune VE 75 Years.

In association with the British Beer and Pub Association and its members, thousands of pubs throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man will be asking their customers to raise a glass at 3pm and take part in the Nation’s Toast to the Heroes of World War Two.