DIFFERENCES over how a North Yorkshire city remembers its war dead could be settled by next year.

Yesterday, and the year before, veterans stayed away from a civic service in Ripon Cathedral, preferring to stand in silence at the war memorial, in the Spa Gardens, at 11am.

Chairman of the local branch of the Royal British Legion, Maurice Rudd, pointed out, it is where most old soldiers felt they ought to be.

However, in the spirit of compromise, they joined the civic party with their standards in time for a march past by the 38 Engineer Regiment outside the Town Hall, yesterday.

Afterwards, Mr Rudd confirmed talks are to be held with church leaders, in an effort to better coordinate the city's Remembrance Day events in future.

"We had around 300 people in the Spa Gardens at 11am, which I found surprising,'' he said.

"Quite a few came to me afterwards to say thank you, but we hope talks with the cathedral will mean we can all be together next year.