A WAR veteran has hit out at Worcester police for failing to stop the traffic for a two-minute remembrance silence outside the Cathedral.

John Hewlett said he was ashamed when the Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Mary Drinkwater, was forced to break from the group at the Cenotaph and ask an officer to stop the traffic.

Mr Hewlett, chairman of the Worcester branch of the Royal British Legion, said the two-minute silence at 11am on November 11, is a mark of respect for the millions of people killed in the wars of the last century.

"The Mayor had to break free from us and had to ask a policeman to stop the traffic," said Mr Hewlett.

"I was so ashamed. We've never had this problem before.

"We were told after that we needed a special licence to stop the traffic but every other year I just have a word with the duty inspector and it's all sorted out.

"I was very annoyed because, as far as I was concerned, we were at a funeral and we wanted to pay our respects."

Last week, the St John's and Hallow Royal British Legion was forced to cancel its remembrance parade after being told it should have applied for a road closure order.

But following a story in the Evening News the block was lifted and the march went ahead.

Mr Hewlett, who served in the Far East in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, said a huge crowd had gathered at the Cathedral roundabout on Saturday and he was worried that people were lining the pavements close to the moving traffic.

Coun Drinkwater said she had asked a police officer - who knew nothing about a traffic halt - to stop the traffic just before 11am.

"I told him that there was going to be a two-minute silence," said Coun Drinkwater.

"Luckily, a lorry driver drove up to the roundabout and just stopped so he forced the traffic to stop anyway. He was a bit of a hero really.

"I decided to go and have a word with the officer because I was really concerned that all the traffic would be passing the Cenotaph as we stood in silence.

"It's a very emotional time for the war veterans and I felt very sorry for Mr Hewlett because he was quite upset by the incident."

Worcester police declined to comment.