DEVASTATED ex-servicemen have been forced to call off their Remembrance Day parade for the first time in 20 years.

"Barmy" new legislation meant St John's and Hallow Royal British Legion had to apply 28 days in advance to close the quarter-mile stretch of the route from Swanpool car park to the church.

But the branch was yesterday forced to scrap Sunday's parade because the city council had not received an application.

Two hundred ex-servicemen, Brownies, Guides, Scouts and Boys' and Girls' Brigade members were due to take part.

Bob Peart, the branch's honorary secretary, said it was unaware of the new law.

"It's barmy," he said. "We've held this march for 20 years and now the road can't be closed for us. We didn't apply because we didn't know."

Stanley Ingham, the branch chairman, sobbed as he branded the 11th-hour blow "terrible" and claimed members' pride had been destroyed.

"We left a lot of dead comrades over in Italy and Africa and to do this to them is terrible. The parade was in their memory," said Mr Ingham, of Cormorant Rise, Lower Wick.

"We're still going to church - make no mistake about that - and it won't stop us thinking about them. But it will stop us remembering them in the way we want to."

Mr Ingham, who served in the Army, said the branch was "devastated".

"We had the whole thing organised," said the 78-year-old. "We fought for them and gave them their freedom and this is the thanks we get. It's an insult."

Worcester police spokeswoman Vicki Davies said the force had not been notified about the parade, but would not have opposed it.

She said the city council often "turned these things round" in the space of a day.

Tom Comerford, senior engineer at the council, said he spoke to Mr Peart two weeks ago.

"I spoke to the city solicitor and unfortunately, because a formal application hadn't been received within 28 days of the march, we couldn't announce the closure in the Press," he said.

"However, the police should consider the laws available to them - they are entitled to do so. Although we can't do anything about it now, the police may have options available."