IT was a poignant moment when an old Second World War transporter plane flew over a memorial service to British prisoners of war.

The US-built Douglas Dakota had seen service in the Far East and was used to fly home some of the British servicemen who survived the brutality of their captors.

About 1,000 people attended the service, marking the 58th anniversary of VJ Day - victory over Japan - in Mowbray Park, Sunderland, yesterday.

Arthur Lockyear, of the city's remembrance parade steering group, helped organise the event on behalf of the Sunderland Far East Prisoners of War Association.

"We had 50 standard bearers, which is a lot. I am told that the Sunderland Remembrance Parade is one of the biggest outside London and we get about 20 standards.

"We must have had about 1,000 people - double the number we expected - and there were veterans from as far south as Yorkshire and as far north as the Borders.

"Everyone who laid a wreath got a round of applause, which does not happen on Remembrance Day.

"We all had tears in our eyes when the Dakota came over.''

Among the guests at the parade were Captain Richard Annand, of the Durham Light Infantry, who was the first to be awarded the Victoria Cross during the Second World War.

Current service personnel from the Royal Marines, Coldstream Guards, Royal Military Police and Gurkhas also attended.

Mr Lockyear, a sub-officer for the Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade, said another would be held next year and that it could become an annual event.