WAR veterans planning a town centre parade have been given their marching orders.

A procession by the Royal British Legion in Consett, has been changed after organisers were faced with a large bill for road closures.

The legion wanted to give its old branch standard a proper send-off with a march around Consett town centre on Sunday, June 27. The old banner is being replaced with a lighter version.

But legion members were stunned after Durham County Council said the parade would require the closure of Front Street and Albert Road.

For closures to go ahead, the council's highways department wanted evidence of a full traffic management system, drawn up by a council-approved private company and paid for by the legion. Branch secretary Tommy Armstrong said: "You would be lucky to see two cars down Front Street on a Sunday afternoon.

"If we had hundreds of pounds for traffic management, we wouldn't have needed to ask for some money to buy the new standard. I really feel sick about it."

The group has now shortened the parade.

Instead of a circuit of the town centre, the parade will make its way along the pedestrianised zone in Middle Street to Christ Church, where the dedication ceremony for the new standard will take place.

To avoid paying for any road closures the veterans will have to stop marching at the bottom of Middle Street and fall out at the roadside.

They will then cross Raglan Street and Parliament Street as ordinarypedestrians,before reforming and marching on to the church.

The procedure will have to be carried out again, when the new banner is paraded on the return journey.

Mr Armstrong, 72, of Consett, who served with the Royal Artillery, said: "We wanted the parade to be more public and dignified. We are very disappointed."

A spokesman for Durham County Council said: "We were consulted on road closures by Derwentside District Council.

"We have no problem with the procession going along Middle Street. But for Albert Road and Front Street, there would have to be full road closure and diversions.

"Because the event could have potentially involved a full road closure, we would insist on a detailed traffic management study."