Cottesmore heritage railway museum Rocks by Rail: The Living Ironstone Museum commemorated the 75th anniversary of VJ Day with a special ceremony.

The volunteer-run museum, in Ashwell Road, welcomed representatives from the British Army, veteran groups and other individuals to the invitation-only event.

A Rocks by Rail spokesman said: "The museum decided to have a modest private commemoration for VJ Day within the rules on limited assembly and social distancing.

"The focus of the event was the Far East prisoners of war (FEPOW) memorial steam locomotive 'Singapore', itself a prisoner of war of the Japanese, a fate it shared with many thousands of allied servicemen at the Fall of Singapore in February 1942.

"We were honoured by the attendance of Captain Nijenhuis, Defence and Naval Attache at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands, to remember Dutch prisoners of war and internees under the Japanese occupation of the Far East.

"During the ceremony these representatives were invited to place a white orchid - the Far East flower of Remembrance - on the footplate of the locomotive beneath the memorial plates - in memoriam.

"The FEPOW prayer was also read."

The trustees of Rocks by Rail have taken the 'tough' decision not to reopen this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, socially-distanced volunteers will continue to undertake work in preparation for the museum to welcome back visitors in Easter 2021.

When the Government announced the coronavirus lockdown volunteers were engaged on a major rail track rebuilding project together with improvements to the visitor reception building and works to improve access for disabled visitors.

These will be completed in time for the reopening along with new initiatives and a full programme of events.

A statement by the trustees says: "The trustee board fully appreciate that this decision will cause some sadness amongst potential visitors and the decision has not been lightly taken.

"The pandemic has caused clearly significant dislocation to museum activities and finances, but we look forward to better times ahead as confidence slowly returns."

Anyone who would like to support the continuing work of the museum can send donations - cheques should be made payable to 'Rutland Railway Museum' - to Mr A Salmon, RbR Treasurer, 4 Main Street, Stanford on Soar, Loughborough, LE12 5PY.