THE people of East Lancashire - as the rest of the country - had danced in the street when it was announced that, at last, the Second World War had ended after six long years.

The news that peace had come to Europe was greeted with scores of street parties and bonfires.

But it had only been Victory in Europe - Hitler had fallen, but war was still being waged by Japan.

It was to be August, 1945, before they surrendered and the guns finally fell silent across the globe.

This image from the Telegraph archives shows how the people of Accrington heard the glad tidings of Victory over Japan.

Broadway was decorated with bunting, with strings of flags strung between the street lights, as the mayor, Coun Charles Myall climbed a podium to read the proclamation.

Thousands had gathered in the town centre to hear the news, though it was a damp and gloomy summer's day.

Broadway looks almost unrecognisable to the thoroughfare we know so well today, and the buildings are still stained with the soot and grime, built up over decades from the town's industrial chimneys, but you can just spot the buildings in Blackburn Road, in the top centre.