YOUNG people in Great Harwood have been praised for their conduct on Remembrance Sunday after a series of incidents blighted the run up to the anniversary.

The town's Royal British Legion celebrated its best ever turnout.

More than 250 people assembled in Towngate for the parade towards St Bartholomew's Church for a service before moving on to the cenotaph.

In the build-up, Royal British Legion volunteer Paul Dunn had accused a gang of teenagers of "desecrating" the memory of the nation's war dead.

Mr Dunn, 41, who works at Junction Seven business park, Clayton-le-Moors, had opened his front door in Green Hill to three youngsters who asked him for the traditional Hallowe'en trick or treats.

But when he told them he did not want to give them any money, the youngsters grabbed the contents of a box of poppies outside his property and scattered them on the road.

At the time the security guard said: "It's a sad state of affairs when things like this happen as we approach the day of remembrance on November 11.

"They obviously don't realise the poppy is in memory of soldiers who fought and died for this country. It is a desecration of our war dead." A collection box for poppies had also been stolen from a Great Harwood post office.

But on Sunday Mr Dunn was pleasantly surprised to see so many young people among the crowds wearing their poppies with pride.

He said: "This has been the best Remembrance Day we have had in Great Harwood.

After the publicity about the money which was taken we have received lots of donations to compensate although we don't know the exact amount yet."