WESTBURY’S White Horse will be the venue for a beacon lighting ceremony later this month to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

Taking place on May 8, the beacon will be one of more than 100 that are to be lit in sequence across the country to remember the end of the Second World WarWorld War Two in 1945.

The beacon at the White Horse, on the hillside overlooking Westbury, will be lit at 9.32pm and will burn for approximately an hour with a war veteran from WWII, the Royal British Legion and members of the public in attendance.

The town will be only one of two places in Wiltshire where a beacon will be lit as part of the ceremony with the second taking place at Barbury Castle, Swindon.

David Bradshaw, Westbury mayor-elect will be lighting the beacon. He said: “I think we have been given the chance to light the beacon because the White Horse is very prominent and it’s accessible with plenty of room for people to go up to.

“From my point of view, it will be a proud moment for me to light the beacon and the rest of Westbury will hopefully feel likewise.

“It remains to be seen how many people will go to the lighting of it but I suspect quite a few people will be attending because it is a proud moment for Westbury.

“It’s very encouraging that there seems to be a resurgence in people taking an interest in the First and Second World War, although many can only imagine the terrible events that took place.”