Sea of red returns to Tower of London for VE Day 80th anniversary spectacular

The first of 30,000 ceremonial poppies has been planted as Britain begins the countdown to VE Day.

The Tower of London is creating a stunning new installation using those from the acclaimed 2014 artwork Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red which saw the historic fortress encircled in a sea of red and which was visited by more than 5 million people.

From May 6 - two days before VE Day which this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the conflict in Europe in the Eastern Front - those from the original installation commemorating the centenary of the First World War

will be displayed within the walls of the citadel. It will resemble a wound at the heart of the Tower, which was bombed during the Blitz and still bears the scars today.

The honour of "planting" the first poppy was given to Rob Fuller, Chief Yeoman Warder.

A sea of glorious red will be the centrepiece of commemorations to mark the momentous milestone which will see the country embark on four-days of official events.

Artist Paul Cummins, behind the concept for the original installation, said: "Seeing the public reaction to Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red was something that I will always be proud of and will never forget and helped to bring people together from across the world, collaborating, telling stories, remembering loved ones and honouring those who sacrificed to protect future lives.

"I hope some of the poppies returning to the place they were initially unveiled will inspire the same feelings of togetherness, reflection and hope for the future for all across the globe."

The poppies are being installed at an iconic landmark that remains an enduring symbol of strength and survival.

The Tower suffered heavy aerial bombardment during the Blitz, the German bombing campaign waged against Britain for eight months from September 7, 1940 to May 11, 1941. One of the Tower's Yeoman Warders, Samuel Reeves, and a resident, Lily Frances Lunn, died when the fortress took a direct hit.

At the end of the war, it was floodlit as a beacon of hope to represent a new beginning.

Brigadier Andrew Jackson, Governor of the Tower of London said: "Many of the community that lives and works at the Tower of London are veterans with a long and distinguished record of service.

"Everyone here is familiar with the Tower's wartime history and the impact of the previous poppies installation in 2014, so we are looking forward to welcoming visitors to this new display. We hope it will be a shared space to reflect on the sacrifices of the fallen."

The display will open on May 6 in advance of the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8. It will run through to VJ Day, when Imperial Japan surrendered, effectively bringing the war to an end, and culminate on Armistice Day, November 11.

Tom O'Leary, of Historic Royal Palaces, said: "As the Second World War begins to pass out of living memory, it's more important than ever that we come together to remember, share stories of the past and to reflect on the lasting legacy of conflict.

"We know that the 2014 display was a unique event in the Tower's history that can never be repeated, but we wanted to play our part in marking this anniversary, and hope that by returning a small number of the original poppies to the Tower, we've found a fitting way to do that. We hope the Tower of London can once again be a space for everyone to remember and reflect in the ways that mean most to them, during this important anniversary year."