Villagers in Braunston-in-Rutland celebrated VE Day in fine style last Friday, with food, fashion and music all adding to a nostalgic 40s feel.

A video of the day has now been put together by villager Chris Bichard, which can be viewed here online.

Dominic Way, landlord of the Blue Ball Pub, told Oakham Nub News: "Last weekend would normally have been the village May Fair.

"Braunston goes to a lot of effort for this. We have Maypole dancing, a May King and Queen, dog competitions, bands playing, etc, and there's duck racing in the brook, ending with our Quack National."

"All this was cancelled because of Covid-19 but at the last minute, villagers decided to do something to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

"We had a two-minute silence at the cenataph, featuring 40-50 of us, socially-distanced apart. There was cardboard silhouettes of soldiers around the village.

"Then at 4pm we had afternoon teas, safely in the front of your garden or in your driveway. A lot of us were dressed in red, white and blue or in 1940s attire.

"A few of us even finished off with a sing-song at 9pm."

Looking back at the event, Dominic continued: "It was really, really cheery how everybody came together and how all the events were put together.

"The day reminded us how fortunate we are to live in a community where there is so much support.

"People really got into the spirit of it all. But we also missed those who are continuing to stay in self-isolation and had to remain back inside."

• Read how the Blue Ball, Rutland's oldest pub, is fighting back as a take-away.