Tyne Tees Sedgefield

North East veterans have gathered to pay tribute to those who lost their lives fighting the Japanese during World War II.

They are holding a special memorial service in the centre of Sedgefield to mark the anniversary of Victory over Japan Day, or VJ Day.

It is an annual commemoration of the Japanese surrender that effectively ended the Second World War.

The surrender on 15th August 1945 came days after American forces dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The Sedgefield Village Veterans have gathered to pay tribute to Drummer Lee Rigby, who was murdered in Woolwich last week.

They have marked the deaths of each serviceman and woman killed in Afghanistan.

This was the first time they have honoured a soldier who has died in this country.

Speaking after the ceremony, David Hillerby said Lee Rigby's death was another reminder of the ties that unite all members of the armed forces:

The murdered soldier Lee Rigby has been remembered by veterans in County Durham.

Lee Rigby was killed outside his barracks in Woolwich last week.

The Sedgefield Village Veterans have marked the deaths of each serviceman or woman who has died in recent overseas conflicts.

This is the first time they have bestowed the honour on a soldier killed in this country.

Races at Sedgefield racecourse in County Durham have been diverted to avoid fence six because of nesting ducks.

All chases on May 14th will omit the Roadside fence.

The sixth fence in all races will be omitted at Sedgefield in County Durham on May 14th because of nesting ducks.

The British Horseracing Authority listings state: 'Fence 6 (Roadside) will also be omitted in all Chases due to ducks nesting.'

Sedgefield Harrier Ean Parsons says he has had a lucky escape after completing the Boston Marathon just minutes before two bombs exploded at the finish line, killing two people and injuring many more.

53 year old Ean said, "There was a huge explosion and then 30 seconds later we heard a quieter one, but we were told it was actually bigger than the first. You think to yourself, 'Is it a gas explosion or is it a bomb?'

"As I was approaching the finish line, I remember thinking, 'I'll only be here once,' so I was taking in everything. I remember seeing all the people cheering on the grandstand.

"Then when I later watched the coverage on the television I saw the grandstand blown to bits. I can still remember the faces of the people who were sitting there just hours earlier."

A County Durham MP is handing a petition to Parliament, opposing the growth of windfarms in the county.

Around 150 signatures have been collected from people living around the village of Wingate, where proposals for five turbines have ben put forward.

The Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson says his constituents are not 'nimbies'. He says the county already has a large number of windfarms and cannot cope with more.

Racing at Sedgefield race course today has been abandoned due to poor weather - it was due to be Cheltenham Festival Raceday.

The main bar will remain open with food, drink and betting services available. Racing can be watched on big screens.

The racecourse office can be contacted on: 01740 621925.

Fire-fighters from across Europe have travelled to a training base on Teesside to use its facilities.

The International Fire Training Centre near Darlington provides simulations of aeroplane fires and helicopter crashes.

Watch the full report from Jonny Blair below.

Fire-fighters from around the world have travelled to the International Fire Training Centre near Darlington to use its facilities.

Training scenarios at the base include tackling blazes outside and inside aeroplanes, as well as a simulated helicopter crash.

People have travelled from Poland, Germany and Canada to use the site.

Dennis Perkins, the director of training, told ITV News about the training taking place at the centre near Tees Valley Airport.