Council invites everyone in Mansfield to join them for the big virtual VE Day party

Mansfield Council had been planning to hold a big celebration at Four Seasons Shopping Centre but due to the national coronavirus social distancing measures, all its events have been put on hold until at least September.However council bosses felt the date was too significant to ignore and so residents are being encouraged to hold picnics in their front gardens, using 1940- inspired recipes to rustle up tasty treats, and to make some noise to mark the occasion in a community street singalong of wartime favourites.A web page has been included on the council's website to support the event – click here.People are being encouraged to deliver wartime-style treats to elderly friends, neighbours and relatives who may be in lockdown isolation, to help evoke memories of the past.The council is also supporting a national two minutes' silence at 3pm followed by the official nation’s toast to all World War II heroes.

In the run-up to the event the council, will be adding a video to its social media channels showing how to make rosettes to wear, bunting to dress homes and Union Jack flags to wave throughout the day.

To reach elderly or vulnerable members of the community, who may not have access to the internet, the council is creating an invitation for people to print out and take round or post to their friends and neighbours so they don't miss out.

The event will end with a wartime singalong of memorable 1940s favourites at 8.15pm, led live online on the council's Facebook page by Jessica Poole, a professional singer known as the Yorkshire Belle

Keep an eye on the council's website, Facebook page and Twitter account for details of events and about how everyone can get involved.