A TOWN plans to return to the era of Spitfires and the Jitterbug to mark end of World War Two.

Penrith will give visitors a vintage taste of the 1940s on the Friday, May 8, Bank Holiday with a Turn Back Time event.

The town centre will be transformed back to the era with free street activities, vintage vehicle parade, 1940s fashions, live music, drama performances and a street picnic party.

Community groups, charities and businesses have been invited to take

part in the event led by the town council which is looking to be inclusive of all ages, groups and organisations.

A spokesperson for the council said: "We are encouraging shops and street facing businesses to take part by decorating shop windows.

"We are also asking salons to do hair and make-up of the period, asking charity shops to create a 1940s clothes rail and food outlets to include recipes on the menu of the era.

"We will also be encouraging anyone coming to the event to dress in period clothes."

A free bus will also shuttle people, on Friday and Saturday, May 9, between the town centre and Brougham Hall which will run its Wartime Weekend at the same time.

The council is also working with number of other community groups, which include the Business Improvement District and community groups to organise the event.

It is billed as an event to commemorate and celebrate VE Day 75, and as an international celebration of peace, "a time to remember, reflect and pay tribute to the millions who played such a vital part in achieving it".

The occasion will also be marked special church service on Sunday, May 10.