Communities united at the weekend to mark the 60th anniversay of VE Day, the day the guns fell silent over Europe.

Crown Street library in Darlington, put original copies of The Northern Echo from VE Day on display to rekindle memories.

The pages were tattered and yellowed, but the stories published 60 years ago remained highly emotive to many of the older visitors .

St Herbert's Church in Yarm Road, held a three-day commemoration, with a festival of flowers organised by Darlington Flower Club, and a Songs Of Praise event.

In Newton Aycliffe, the Territorial Army's 124 Recovery Company of the 102 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, marched past two mayors - Marie Predki, of Sedgefield borough, and Maud Gray, of Great Aycliffe.

Community groups and businesses teamed up for a fair hosted by Newton Aycliffe Rotary Club in the town's leisure centre.

There were displays by police and fire services, the Army and St John Ambulance, as well as street entertainment and face painting.

Celebrations in the town's Scout hut lasted all weekend, where former Aycliffe Angels were among the visitors enjoying dancing displays, old newsreels, and displays of memorabilia.