Around 100 people witnessed the moment Southampton lit a beacon as part of commemorations on the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

Members of the public and dignitaries gathered at Holyrood Church, which was itself bombed during the Blitz, as the Lord Mayor lit Southampton's beacon.

It is one of 1,000 across the country to mark 80 years since the end of World War II.

The event also saw the City of Southampton Albion Band play a selection of wartime songs, while the Lord Mayor and the city's Town Crier also delivered speeches.

Speaking at the event, Lord Mayor Cllr Dave Shields, said: “We gather here tonight to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe.

“VE Day, a day that signalled the end of nearly six years of war in Europe. On May 8, 1945, communities across Britain celebrated the defeat of Nazi Germany.

“Today we come together in that same spirit to remember, to reflect, and to give thanks.”

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Holyrood has also served as a memorial to the Merchant Navy since 1957.

As the sun lowered over the city, the Lord Mayor emphasised Southampton’s role during World War II.

He said: “Southampton played a significant part in the war effort and as a key port city was heavily bombed during the Blitz.

“Hundreds of lives were lost and much of the city was destroyed, but through that hardship Southampton remained resilient.

“Our docks were vital to the movement of troops and supplies as thousands of men and women from our city served in uniform, worked in factories, and supported the war effort in countless ways.

“We also remember the civilians, those who lived through the rationing, blackouts, and separation from loved ones, we honour those that never returned and those who rebuilt our city in the years that followed.

“Southampton today is a diverse and modern city, people from many backgrounds now call it home.”

Following a speech from the Town Crier, Alan Spencer, where he paid tribute to “the millions that gave so much to achieve the freedom we all enjoy,” Winston Churchill’s VE Day speech was broadcast to everyone in attendance.

The eventual lighting of the beacon by the Lord Mayor was met by applause by everyone in attendance, as the flame shone in the night sky.