ONE of the biggest parades commemorating the 60th anniversary of the surrender of Japanese forces, and the ending of the Second World War will take place in the North-East on Sunday.

The parade will march from the rear of the Sunderland Civic Centre to the city's War Memorial, in Mowbray Park, at 11am.

The marchers will be led by the Normandy Band of the Queen's Division from Catterick Garrison, the Buglers of the Durham Army Cadet Force Borneo Band, and the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers from Newton Aycliffe.

Messages of good wishes from the Duke of Edinburgh and Dame Vera Lynn will be read out to the veterans from the steps of the War Memorial.

During the service of remembrance there will a fly-past by a Douglas Dakota and a Spitfire from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The service will also see the dedication of standards of local branches of the Suez Veterans' Association, and the Household Cavalry Club.

Soldiers from the Army Foundation College, Harrogate, and the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick Garrison, including Gurkhas, and firefighters from through out the UK will be on parade, as a mark of respect to holders of the Burma and Pacific Star.

The service of remembrance will commence the playing of Elgar's Land of Hope and Glory, as it has particular significance to former members of Sunderland's 125 (Anti-Tank) Regiment Royal Artillery, who were imprisoned on the fall of Singapore.

Organisers of the event have invited all ex-service- men and women, former members of the Merchant Navy, emergency services, and evacuees, and anyone else might wish to pay their respects.