The nephew of a Second World War veteran laid a lone wreath in Bushey in aid of VJ Day after the council said no to an official service.

Bushey resident, Len Cole laid his own wreath at Bushey Memorial at the same time as the Queen attended a national service of remembrance in St Martins, London on Saturday to commemorate the 70th anniversary.

VJ day - victory in Japan day officially marks the end of the Second World War, when Japan surrendered to the allied countries.

Mr Cole, 65, said he emailed Hertsmere Borough Council if they were holding a service but they told him they had no plans to and to ask the local British Legion.

The retired schoolteacher then asked the Bushey British Legion who also said that they were not holding a service in the area.

He said: "Whilst the Queen, the Prime minister and hundreds of veterans attend a national service in London, sadly there was no local recognition of this important national remembrance event.

"There have been various celebrations for the end World War Two in Europe earlier in the year, but these forgotten soldiers fought and died up until the official end on August 14, 1945.

"So at my own expense I ordered a wreath directly from the British Legion and laid it as my personal tribute."

Mr Cole, who has lived in Bushey for 30 years, laid his wreath in memory of his uncle, Sidney Cole - private 3321672, second Battalion Argyll & Sunderland Highlanders. He died at aged 23, as a prisoner of war in Japan, building the infamous Burma railway.

Mr Cole is a member of the Children of the Far East Prisoners of War. He added: "I am sure I am not the only relative in Bushey or in Hertsmere who fell in the far east."

Spokesperson for the council, Cath Shepherd, said: "I can confirm that, in common with most other borough and district councils across the county, Hertsmere Borough Council did not formally mark the 70th anniversary of VJ Day.

"However, each year the Mayor of Hertsmere leads a poignant ceremony outside civic offices to mark Armed Forces Day. Local schoolchildren and members of the public, along with members of the local Royal British Legion, religious representatives, staff and councillors, joined this year’s ceremony towards the end of June.

"This, as always, provided a fitting and important opportunity to stop and remember the contribution of our armed forces in past and current conflicts to help ensure our safety and security."

In a statement, The Royal British Legion said that everyone, including descendants of those who served in the far east during the war were welcome to attend the national service.

They said: "We are grateful to any communities throughout the UK who hosted commemorations on a local level, however we appreciate that it is not possible for all communities to do so."