IT was party time in Victoria Square as Bolton said a big thank you to Second World War veterans and their families.

The clock was turned back and a big band played as 445 guests assembled in a huge marquee for an afternoon of fun and memories to celebrate the 60th anniversary of both VE Day, the end of the war in Europe, and VJ Day, the end of the war in the Far East.

A more solemn commemoration of the end of the war has been arranged with a civic parade and church service for Sunday, July 10, but the "thank you" party on Saturday was all about giving the veterans, who had sacrificed so much for their country, an occasion to remember.

The party was the culmination of months of work by a team from Bolton Information Network, who spent time getting to know the veterans, recording their memories for a commemorative Bolton Remembers the War booklet and consulting them about how they wanted to mark the anniversary.

Sitting at long tables decorated with flags, the veterans were treated to a potato pie lunch. Each guest was given a copy of the booklet and a commemorative pin badge.

Entertainment was provided by the Tommy Lowe Big Band and the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, Cllr Frank and Eileen White led the dancing.

Memories of George Formby were evoked by impersonator Anthony Mason and volunteer helpers were all decked out in period uniform or 40s finery loaned from the collection of Bill and Christine Holden.

"It means a lot that we haven't been forgotten," said Jim Harrison, who served in the Parachute Regiment and fought at Arnhem.

"It think it is a marvellous idea," added Edith Thorpe, who worked for Bolton Fire Service as a telephonist and clerk during the war years.

Like many others, the war was devastating for Jean Hall, who worked as a land army girl in Wiltshire and Westhoughton in the 1940s.

A brother was killed while in the RAF and her other brother, who served in the Merchant Navy, died shortly after the war ended.

"This will probably be one of our last opportunities to meet old friends. It is just nice to have a chat about the old days," she said.

The Mayor said it was a "privilege and honour" to pay tribute to the veterans and thank them on behalf of the town.

Cllr White was born in 1939 and can recall his childhood wartime years. The war had a big impact on his family as his dad, Sapper Arthur Leslie White was taken prisoner in the Far East and died while working on the Burma Railway. Throughout Bolton town centre at the weekend there were other reminders of the war years.

In Le Mans Crescent there was a display of Second World War vehicles, including a 1940 fire engine on loan from the Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum.

Parades and music were put on by Bolton Sea Cadets and Bolton Air Cadets and at the museum and library there were displays featuring wartime memories and objects.

In the evening it was the children's turn to pay tribute to the veterans when students from the Dawn Dawson Academy of Stage and Dance performed a special "Diamond Commemoration Concert" with a wartime theme at the Albert Halls.

Other events throughout this coming week to mark the VE/VJ Day anniversaries include a concert at Halliwell Central Reform Club, hosted by Bolton Combined Services Association on Thursday.

On July 10, the day set aside for a national commemoration, Westhoughton will hold its own parade, which will leave the Royal British Legion on Wigan Road at 9.40am and march to St Batholomew's Church for a service followed by a minute's silence at the war memorial.

The civic parade, which will be attended by ex-servicemen from throughout the borough, will start at 2.30pm in Victoria Square and will march to Bolton Parish Church for a service.

Boltons events are part of Veterans Awareness Week, a national project that aims to raise awareness of veterans issues and marks their contribution to society with around 200 events across the UK.

The initiative, which was being launched in St Jamess Park, London, today, will include a Veterans Centre, concerts and a display of vintage Second World War vehicles.

The week will culminate with the centrepiece of the anniversary commemorations in London on Second World War National Commemoration Day, Sunday July 10.

Every night this week from 9pm, a 20-minute series of images will be frequently projected onto the front of Buckingham Palace, telling the story of Britain at War.