Within three days Nagasaki was also completely obliterated by another atomic bomb. Many died instantaneously, others soon after from burns and shock. More died from radiation in the years that followed. By 1950, an estimated 340,000 people had died as a result of the two bombs. The effects are still being felt today.

Kate Shuckburgh, an active member of the Peace Group said: "The Peace Group are calling for the complete abolition of all Nuclear Weapons and calling on the five established Nuclear Powers to take the lead. Each Trident warhead is 8 times more powerful than the bomb that devasted Hiroshima. Already at Aldermaston plans are in place to produce a new generation of battlefield nuclear weapons, this is absolute madness."


John Marjoram, a Green Stroud District and Town councillor, who helped organise the vigil, said: “This anniversary is not just about remembrance, it is about our future. Nuclear war is never justified. We must explore peaceful solutions to the world’s problems. The 60th anniversary is an opportunity to try and understand the horror of the nuclear bomb and challenge the idea that it would ever be necessary or justified to use it anywhere, ever again.”

VIGIL: People are being asked to join the gathering at 11am at the top of the High Street and this will be followed at 12 by a vigil. Boards with slogans will be held up saying: "Hiroshima -140,000 killed", "Trident 8 times as powerful", "Nuclear Radiation goes on killing" and "Abolish all Nuclear Weapons".