'VE Day baby' is celebrating his 80th birthday

A great grandfather born on the day the Allies declared victory over Nazi Germany has celebrated his 80th birthday.

- by Harriet Sutton

Stewart Howitt, who was brought up in Leeds, almost had a different name as the country celebrated victory following the six-year long war.

Born to mum and dad Peggy and Louis Howitt, who both made tanks for the war effort, Stewart said nurses suggested to his parents that they name him Victor.

He said: "When I was born, the nurses at the hospital said I should be called Victor - or Victoria if I'd been a girl - but my mum wasn't having that."

The retired engineer, who just celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife, Margaret, 78, said he is now worried that young people are forgetting the importance of the war.