A series of events are to be held in Brighton and Hove to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day.

As well as a special concert at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion a beacon will be lit at the Blind Veterans UK centre in Ovingdean.

A former radio presenter who spearheaded a campaign calling for more to be made of the anniversary has welcomed Brighton and Hove’s plans.

Neil Coppendale, 69, feared the milestone would be lost due to the general election being held only a day before the May 8 anniversary.

He launched a petition calling on the government to ensure national celebrations were held and the anniversary marked properly.

Prime Minister David Cameron subsequently announced a series of events planned for around the country from May 8-10.

Events planned for Brighton include an open air service, wreath laying ceremony and two minute silence at the War Memorial in Old Steine, on May 10 at 3pm.

This will commemorate the VE day anniversary as well as the forthcoming anniversary of VJ day. The events are open to all.

The event is being co-ordinated by Brighton and Hove City Council, the Royal British Legion and other partners.

On May 8 there will be an anniversary concert at the Royal Pavilion from 8pm featuring pianist Martin James Bartlett, the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014.

It will include music by Mozart and Tchaikovsky with more details and tickets via the Brighton Fringe box office at boxoffice.brightonfringe.org or by calling 01273 917272.

On the same day there will be a beacon lighting ceremony at the Blind Veterans UK centre in Ovingdean.

The beacon will form part of a chain being lit around the country as the sun goes down.

People are advised to arrive from 8.30pm and the ceremony will start at 9.15pm.

The charity will also be cutting a large VE into the grass before the event to mark the anniversary.

Mr Coppendale, from Shoreham, said: “This will be a fitting Brighton and Hove tribute to our finest generation and the greatest day in this country's history.

“This will be the last major event where veterans and those who also served will be able to gather in some numbers, so it is essential that we thank them one last time on a national and local scale and at the same time raise awareness for this and future generations.”

FACTFILE

VE Day was the public holiday on May 8, 1945 to mark the defeat of Germany by the Allied forces in the Second World War.

More than one million people celebrated in the streets of cities, towns and villages in the UK.

Crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square and up The Mall, waiting for Winston Churchill, the wartime Prime Minister, and King George VI to make an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

VE Day did not mark the end to all of the fighting associated with the war. Japan did not surrender until August, 1945.

Japan officially signed surrender documents on September 2, 1945, bringing the war to a close. This is celebrated as V-J Day (Victory over Japan).