A group of veterans are showcasing some old military vehicles in the Mall in the build up to VE Day.

Veterans Living History Museum CIC have brought a military Land Rover from 1995 and a 1944 BSA WD M20 motorcycle from WW2, into the Mall to celebrate VE Day and tease the launch of their permanent veterans’ hub.

The community interest company is run by volunteers and veterans of the Queens Lancashire Regiments, Wayne Hester, Patrick O'Reilly and David McLeary who are from Blackburn and Jimmy Elsworth, from Bacup, who have over 45 years of military career between them.

Director, Wayne said: "We are excited to get back out there and show people what we are about.

"We have been stood still for 14 months - usually we are busy all over the country.

"It's nice to be doing this in our hometown."

The mobile museum, which has been running for the past seven years, brings military history from WW1 to present to life for schools, community organisations, cadet groups, charity events, armed forces weekends and larger events such as Blackpool Air show and Ramsbottom 1940s weekends.

At the events, the group signpost veterans and their families who may need health and wellbeing support to other organisations with the expertise to help.

The hub, which will be on Ordnance Street, will open officially on June 26 - Armed Forces Day - and will include an area for veterans and their families to socialise and share their stories, a separate area for signposting veterans who may need support and a mechanical garage for projects to restore military vehicles.

The veterans have already received support from a funding bid from the Armed Forces Covenant fund trust and are working closely with Kevin O’Hara, Partnership Development Manager at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust and other local businesses, however, they are hoping to gain more support from businesses in the region to fund future projects.