People across the borough paid their respects on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day.

Saturday marked 75 years since the end of World War II, when Japan surrendered to the Allied forces.

Wreaths were laid at war memorials across the borough, an act of remembrance for the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives.

Speeches and news items were broadcast across Victoria Square to accompany a ceremony at the memorial opposite Bolton Town Hall.

Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Linda Thomas, laid a wreath in the town centre, before taking part in a two-minute silence at 11am.

Ward councillors laid wreaths at memorials across the borough on behalf of their residents.

Cllr Paul Sanders said: “It was hoped that a larger gathering and event could have taken place, but we had to have more low key affairs in light of current restrictions.

“Wreaths were laid at war memorials in Farnworth and Kearsley on behalf of the people in honour of those brave men and women who kept on fighting after VE Day in order to win campaigns in the Far East and finally bring the war to an end.

“We remember all those who served and gave their lives in the Second World War to ensure the freedoms we enjoy today.”

Although Victory in Europe was met with jubilation by many, tens of thousands of British troops continued to fight for another three months, before the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki hastened the Japanese surrender.

VJ Day was celebrated on August 15 1945, with Japan formally surrendering on September 2.

Many troops who fought in the Far East didn’t make it home until 1946, carrying back terrible memories, particularly freed prisoners of war.

Over 60,000 Allied troops became prisoners of war (POW) in Singapore in 1942, including former Bolton resident Abdul Wahid.

Indian-born Abdul had been on a carrier ship heading towards the Far East when the ship was blown up, forcing the survivors to grab onto floating debris in a bid to survive.

After being captured, Abdul was forced to have his name tattooed on his arm so he could be identified, and spent three years in three separate POW camps in Singapore and Indonesia.

The difficult labour and harsh conditions led to many injuries, including a broken arm, but Abdul made it to the end of the war, and was shipped back to India after being rescued by the British Army.

He moved to England in the early 60s with his wife, eventually settling in Bolton before his death in 2001.

His son, Macbool, laid a special wreath to commemorate his dad’s time in the service.

Mr Wahid said: “During his lifetime my father rarely spoke about his time during the Second World War and what he went through as a POW, however sometimes he would be shouting in his sleep, occasionally speaking what we assumed were Japanese words.

“It was only towards his later stages in life after falling ill did my father speak to us about what happened to him.

“I want to share my dad’s story for all the troops who fought in the Far East.

“Everyone celebrates VE Day but it seems to be a bit subdued for VJ Day and it’s equally important because that was the absolute end of the war.

“His life is part of history, he was just one of the soldiers who was loyal to the British Indian Army.”

Mr Wahid was inspired to enlist straight out of school by his father’s service.

He joined the Royal Signals when he was just 16-year-old, and served full-time for nine and a half years before joining the Army Reserves in 2003.

The coronavirus pandemic forced the Royal British Legion to cancel plans to take veterans back to the Far East on tours of remembrance, including visits to sites in North East India, Burma (now Myanmar), Thailand and Singapore.