HUNDREDS of lanterns and candles drifted down the River Avon through Salisbury to pay tribute to those that lost their lives 80 years ago after bombs were dropped on two Japanese cities.

People gathered at the river last Wednesday (August 6) to witness the poignant scene.

Each candle that made its way down the river represented around 1,000 lost lives and the ceremony follows the traditions followed in Hiroshima itself.

An estimated 210,000 people were killed after the United States dropped atomic bombs over both Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the Second World War.

Most of those that died were civilians. Japan announced its surrender just six days later.

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The devastating act remains the only time nuclear weapons have been used in an armed conflict.

Picture: Salisbury CND

The event in Salisbury was organised by the Salisbury Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) who called for all nations to acknowledge the horror of such weapons and take actions to eliminate them from our world.

Salisbury itself is a member of the Mayors for Peace movement, which promotes peace, disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons across the world.

Salisbury CND said it has close links with people in Hiroshima and the group received a letter from the Mayor of Hiroshima to commemorate the event.

Picture: Salisbury CND

The moving spectacle was made even more special this year, as lanterns made by students in Hiroshima were sent to Salisbury to float alongside those made by Salisbury CND.

A Salisbury CND spokesperson said: “We must stand together and demand a major change in policy that will move us away from the cripplingly expensive and ultimately self destructive notion of having increasing numbers of ever more powerful nuclear weapons.

Picture: Salisbury CND

“These weapons, if used, will end life on this planet as we know it. There will be no victors from such a conflict.

“Society needs to wake up to the profound negative consequences of squandering our scarce resources on nuclear weapons.

“Be under no illusion, they do not provide us with real security. They threaten our very future.”

All lanterns were recovered from the river after the event.