A CEREMONY to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War was held in Ledbury.

The event took place on Sunday, August 21, and began with a service at St Michael and All Angels' Church, which included a two-minute silence.

This was followed by a procession along Worcester Road to Top Cross and into the High Street, for the laying of poppies at the war memorial.

Leading the procession were local standard bearers Ian Stephens, carrying the Herefordshire Royal British Legion county standard, Cyril May, with the Burma Star Association standard, Brenda Hill, with the Ledbury Women's Section RBL standard, and Lloyd Meredith, with the standard of the Ledbury RBL branch.

Close behind were eleven other standard bearers from Royal British Legion branches across Herefordshire.

Mr Meredith, chairman of the Ledbury branch of the RBL, said: "It was a very moving occasion and a great success. I wouldn't like to say how many people were in the procession, but it was a sizeable number."

The Last Post was played at the war memorial, where everyone was encouraged to lay both red and white poppies. Among them was Wing Cmdr Don Rule, chairman of Herefordshire country branch of the RBL.

Mr Meredith said: "Even passers-by and visitors to the town took part."

The red poppy is the traditional symbol of the Poppy Day Appeal and has its origin in the red flowers that grew on the battlefields of the First World War.

Mr Meredith explained that the white poppy was also chosen for the commemoration because it is a symbol of peace.

He said: "Sixty years on, it may be last official commemoration of the end of the Second World War, but the conflict will not be forgotten and will be remembered again at our Remembrance Day service in November."