People throughout the peninsula are being urged to dance, sing, wave the red, white and blue flags and enjoy picnics in their houses, gardens and balconies, VE Day

Brian Ives, branch chairman of the Shotley & Erwarton Royal Briitish Leagion and Suffolk training officer has encouraged a change in the way the Victory in Europe Day on May 8 is marked.

Standard bearers will parade their banners in front of their own homes at 3pm and a communal singalong, with the help of local radio, are among the things being arranged.

"The legion is urging people on the peninsula to decorate their homes and really get into the spirit of things," said Mr Ives. "VE Day is an important event to be remembered, and probably no more so than now on its 75th anniversary, with everything else that is going on."

The British Legion will be doing as much as it can to help people play their part, including a nationally co-ordinated sing-along to a few wartime songs such as We'll Meet Again, and White Cliffs of Dover which will be broadcast along with the declaration of the end of hostilities in Europe and the Last Post and then finish with Land of Hope and Glory.

You can find the words to songs, on the RBL website.

Mr Ives has also created templates of VE Day bunting to help decorate your homes and you can email him on [email protected] for details.

English Heritage had also planned to support celebrations across the UK, and have special party packs available.

A spokesperson said: "Sadly, our plans to support street parties across England with swing dancing to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War have been delayed as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak.

"Instead, we are encouraging everyone to mark the anniversary with their own VE Day celebration at home,"

The English Heritage pack includes:

• a VE Day poster to display in celebration
• recipes for tasty 1940s dishes to serve on the day
• lyrics to popular 1940s songs
• tips for dancing the Lindy hop swing.

Get your English Heritage VE Day pack here…