WAR veterans have accused the church of turning its back on them in a continuing row over their annual Remembrance Sunday service.

Members of Great Harwood Royal British Legion held their own service at the town's memorial last year after a local minister insisted her congregation stayed in church for the traditional 11am silence.

Now they have been left without a member of the clergy to perform the service after the dispute prompted the retired minister who took part last year to drop out.

The Church of England today stood its ground and said services in Great Harwood's churches would go-ahead regardless of the RBL's separate service.

Problems started two years ago when ex-servicemen wanted to observe the traditional two-minute silence at the town's cenotaph at 11am.

But St Bartholomew's vicar, The Rev Janet Heil, refused to move the civic event forward, saying the silence had traditionally been observed in church before the congregation moved onto the cenotaph.

Last year the organisation staged a parade to the cenotaph, in Memorial park, attended by 250 people including the RAF Association, Scouts, Cubs and Guides. The service was conducted by Eric Joslin, a retired methodist minister, but he decided to pull out this year rather than be in the middle of a row. A spokesman for Great Harwood RBL said: "When we contacted him this year he said he was available. Then he came back to us and said he had made inquiries and couldn't do it.

"It seems the church is unwilling or unable to provide a member of the clergy, so we're looking for a member of the clergy to conduct the service for the Royal British Legion."

Mr Joslin said: "The British Legion and the church had a difference over when the event should take place. I didn't feel I could do it again in those circumstances."

Ward councillor and Mayor of Hyndburn Win Frankland said: "Neither side seems to want to move. They're entrenched. It's a pity they can't come to an amicable arrangement."

A Church of England spokesman said: "Churches in Great Harwood will be holding their own services, including appropriate acts of remembrance at 11am. In St Bartholomew's this will include reading out the names on their war memorial.

"The churches will gather together for their traditional service at the town's war memorial around noon as always."

The Rev Heil was unavailable for comment.