A CITY centre is gearing up for a weekend of events featuring a 1940s nostalgia day and events celebrating the uniformed services.

On Saturday, August 20, Durham City will be filled with swing bands and big bands, costumed shopkeepers, military vehicles and living history tableaux featuring Second World War military vehicles.

Organiser Colin Wilkes, managing director of Durham Markets, said: “It’s the first time we’ve run our nostalgia day in August. Hopefully, visitors and locals will enjoy the entertainment and make the most of everything the city has to offer.”

Events take place between 11am and 4pm.

There will also be a display of 1940s vehicles in Walkergate and Millennium Place, live music , a vintage fire engine in Prince Bishops shopping centre and an old United Bus on Framwellgate Bridge.

On Sunday, August 21, the city is hosting a uniformed services fun day with events and demonstrations by police, fire service, army, RNLI and Mountain Rescue, which will support suicide awareness charity If U Care Share Foundation.

Highlights will include rides in the Fire Service’s aerial platform, a missile launcher in the Market Place, and teams from Channel 5’s Police Interceptors.

David Brown from the foundation, said: “We know that unfortunately our uniformed services are affected by suicide more often than the general public, this is because they are often the first to respond but also because they are more at risk themselves.

“This is an opportunity to celebrate all of our uniformed services and highlight a massive issue affecting their community.”