COVID-19 is not going to stop Porlock residents from celebrating the end of World War Two on Friday May 8 – although it will now be done from the safety of their homes and gardens

The parish council and visitor centre had arranged a major event to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day but now the celebrations will be conducted through PA systems and Bluetooth speakers in the streets.

Opened at 3pm by Town Crier Grant Dennis, celebrations will include singing the national anthem followed by the song We’ll Meet Again, made famous by Dame Vera Lynn.

The afternoon will be rounded off with afternoon tea available to buy from Kitnors’ Tea Rooms in Bossington and Whortleberry Tea Rooms in Porlock.

The centre of the village will be decorated with Union Jack bunting for the weekend and some streets are arranging to decorate their own houses and gardens with bunting, posters and flags.

Dovery Manor Museum is also commemorating the story of the men and women who served at war and at home from Porlock, Selworthy and Luccombe on its website.

This includes profiles of each of the 27 men who gave their lives for their country as well as features on the Home Guard, the Women’s Voluntary Service, those who opened their homes to evacuees, planes which crashed in the area, and much more.

For more information, visit the Dovery Manor Museum website.

** The men in the photo are thought to be members of either the Porlock or Selworthy platoon. Any information about the platoon or its members would be welcomed by local archivist and historian Jeff Cox who is doing research on local aspects of the war.

He can be contacted by email at [email protected].