COMMEMORATIONS took place nationally and internationally today marking the second atom bomb dropped on Japan 77 years ago, which fell on Nagasaki on August 9 1945.

The bombings are estimated to have killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, mainly civilians. Tens of thousands more died later as a result of the effects of radiation.

Today’s commemorations included the laying of a wreath at a new plaque established in Park Square gardens in Leeds by the city council, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament  and the International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons.

The plaque stands under a “peace tree” planted at a previous commemoration.

The event was attended by about by 30 people including Leeds councillors, Quakers, supporters of Yorkshire & Humberside CND and Garforth Peace Project.

The Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings by the United States remain the only times that nuclear bombs have been dropped with the intention of killing.