Blenheim Palace hosted Europe's largest celebration to commemorate the 60th anniversary of VJ day -- including a spectacular air display.

More than 25,000 visitors attended The Festival of Flight yesterday to enjoy a four-hour air display by 40 planes including the Sally B Flying Fortress and the Red Arrows.

Visitors came to Woodstock from across the country to enjoy the show and traffic was slow all day on routes approaching Woodstock including the A44. By lunchtime vehicles were queuing back as far as Yarnton three miles away.

The event included musicians, dancers, singers, classic car and military vehicle enthusiasts and a moving finale from forces' sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn.

Francis Rockliff, festival director, said: "We have tried to capture the immense relief, joy and spontaneous realisation that the war was finally over."

Lord Blandford, part of the organising committee, added: "What we hoped to create is a living tribute to wartime Britain and to the millions of men and women that served all over the world and at home.

"In this VJ Day 60th anniversary year every opportunity must be taken to acknowledge their contribution."

The anniversary marked the surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945, days after the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed by atomic bombs, killing 200,000 people.

The weapons were carried on board American B-29 bombers, developed from the B-17 Flying Fortresses which flew missions over Europe.

The only working example of a B-17 in Britain, known as Sally B, was the centrepiece of the airshow, which also included a Spitfire display by pilot Carolyn Grace.

Crowds were entertained by re-enactments of distinctive sights and sounds from 1940s Britain.

As well as a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the Red Arrows also performed a display above the palace.

Mess tents, swing dance workshops, jeep rides, news footage, hot air balloon flights, Dad's Army enclosure, flight simulators and vintage cars added to the 1940s atmosphere.

Mr Rockliff added: "This was undoubtedly one of the tragic events of history, but while we're commemorating the official end of the Second World War and remembering those that gave so much, we're also trying to capture the immense relief, joy and the spontaneous realisation that the war was finally over."

There were services of remembrance and events to honour British veterans of the Far East campaign across the country, including those in Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff and Norwich.