WAR veterans who have boycotted Accrington's Remembrance Day parade for the last two years have agreed to join this year's procession.

But members of the Royal Air Force Association still refuse to honour their fallen comrades in front of a mobile cenotaph and will proceed to the original cenotaph at Oak Hill Park for their own personal memorial after a service at the town centre church of St James.

Instead of joining some 20 other organisations in Accrington town centre, the aging Royal Air Force veterans have spurned the procession in the town centre after the introduction of a new-style service outside the town hall which they claimed dishonoured the dead in front of a "plastic cenotaph."

Their decision came after Hyndburn Council and the Royal British Legion joined forces at the beginning of 1999 following complaints that the parade to the Oak Hill Park Cenotaph, which is at the top of a steep hill, was unmanageable for older veterans and created a moveable green memorial made from wood.

Alfred Hake, secretary at that time, had said: "We will not take part in a service of remembrance in front of a pretend cenotaph. It isn't right at all."

This year members of the RAF Association will still hold their own service in front of the original cenotaph with a two-minute silence at 11am before a short service officiated by the Rev Kevin Logan, Vicar of Christ Church, Accrington. But they will also participate in the earlier service at St James and the town centre parade.

Mr Hake said: "We have backed down a tiny bit and will march from School Street to the church for the service but will then go to the cenotaph.

"We decided to do it this year because the eleventh falls on the Sunday and -- because of the tragedy on September 11 which affected everyone a great deal -- there is so much more to remember this year."

Dorris Cassidy, secretary of the Accrington branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "It is good that we will all march together but there has never been any animosity over this as far as we are concerned anyway.

"Anyone who wants to go to the cenotaph can do so on the bus provided outside the church - others can go along to the town centre. Everyone has the freedom of choice which is what they fought and died for.

"Let us all remember what Remembrance Day is for and the lads that gave their lives. And let us hope and pray that there are no more cenotaphs."

Council leader Peter Britcliffe, who is president of the Royal British Legion in Oswaldtwistle, also welcomed the agreement.

He will accompany members of the RAF Association to the original cenotaph on November 11 and lay a wreath there on behalf of Hyndburn Borough Council. Meanwhile Deputy Mayor Derek Scholes will attend the service outside the town hall and lay a wreath there.

Councillor Britcliffe said: "I was concerned about the rift that there was and I am now hopeful that we have found a sensible solution it.

"I am sure that everything will be dignified and I hope this will be satisfactory to both the Royal British Legion and the RAF Association.

"I am looking forward to participating and I am pleased that they are coming along to the service prior to Oak Hill Park.

"It is especially appropriate as we now have service people involved in action abroad and can think of the risks that they are taking to save the country from the threat of terrorism.

"I trust that this year will be remembered for the act of remembrance rather than difficulties between two of the parties involved."