BOLTON'S police authority representative has vowed to fight any plans to "downgrade" Remembrance Day celebrations.

The BEN revealed that war veterans taking part in Blackrod's Remembrance Sunday Parade will have to gather at the war memorial instead of their traditional meeting place.

And police, who are concerned about the veterans' safety crossing a busy main road, have written to several organisations in Blackrod and Horwich which hold carnivals and other events on public roads asking them to review their routes.

But Cllr Frank White, who represents Bolton on the Greater Manchester Police Authority, said he did not believe the authority would back any moves to reduce the significance of Remembrance Day parades.

Cllr White, who is a member of Bolton Council's Cabinet, said he believed this was an "operational" suggestion rather than any widespread policy.

Members of the Royal British Legion have traditionally gathered in the lay-by next to the Manchester Road club before collecting wreaths from inside the building, walking in procession across the road to the cemetery for prayers before collecting wreaths from inside the building, walking in procession across the road to the cemetery for prayers before then making their way to St Katharine's Church.

But this year, they will simply gather by the war memorial to avoid any problems while crossing Manchester Road.

Conservative councillor John Hanscomb also hit out at the proposals at a Bolton Council meeting.

He said that Remembrance Day and other civic parades were "the very essence of Britishness".

"It is inconceivable that anyone should try to put a brake on them," he added.