The May Day Bank Holiday will be moved to a Friday next year to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

Business Secretary and Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark announced the switch for next year.

Instead of having the first Monday of the month off to mark May Day, the country will have a long weekend to mark the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

The change means the early May Bank Holiday will be on Friday, May 8, instead of Monday, May 4.

Mr Clark lobbied for the change to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the European front of the Second World War.

On May 8, 1945, Allied forces accepted Germany's surrender.

However, the war would not come to a close until August 15, when Japan surrendered to the Allies.

Mr Clark, who has served Tunbridge Wells since 2005, said: "VE Day marked an historic moment in not only our nation’s, but the world’s history and it is important that we commemorate this great occasion on its 75th anniversary.

"Honouring those who did their duty – whether on the battlefields of Europe or through their efforts and sacrifices here at home.

"Moving next year’s early May bank holiday to VE Day itself is a right and fitting tribute. It will ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to remember and honour our heroes of the Second World War and reflect on the sacrifices of a generation."

The three-day weekend is expected to bring commemorative events including the Nation's Toast, where more than 20,000 pubs will encourage punters to raise a glass to the heroes who fought in the war.

The proposal came on the same week the country marked 75 years since D-Day.

Earlier this year Tunbridge Wells Conservatives started a no-confidence motion in Mr Clark over his voting in Parliament.

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