A 99-year-old Second World War veteran has said ahead of the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) that there are "not many of us left".Dougie Shelley, who joined the Royal Navy aged 17, served as a seaman gunner on the Arctic convoys and was later posted to the Pacific and Australia.Mr Shelley, who lives in a retirement housing complex in Southend, Essex, said he will turn 100 next month.

A 99-year-old Second World War veteran has said ahead of the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) that there are "not many of us left".Dougie Shelley, who joined the Royal Navy aged 17, served as a seaman gunner on the Arctic convoys and was later posted to the Pacific and Australia.Mr Shelley, who lives in a retirement housing complex in Southend, Essex, said he will turn 100 next month.