THERE will be no change to remembrance Day observances in Maryport.

That is the decision of a working party set up after returned serviceman Adrian Kirkbride wrote to the council in December calling for several changes,

He said he and other servicemen and women would like the time changed from 3m to 11am - the traditional time to remember the end of the first world war on the 11th hour of the 11th month.

He said it was felt that the service was dominated by the Navy and that the Army should be better represented.

Mr Kirkbride also felt that last year's ceremony was lacking in that it did not have a band.

Finally, he offered his own security firm as a way to control the procession from St Mary's Church across the busy intersection to the town's Memorial Gardens.

Eighteen returned service people attended the Maryport council meeting on Monday night only to hear the report from the working party received and past.

Town clerk, Lisa Douglas, said: "The council had to be able to study the report and accept it. If we had known that so many people would turn up we would have given them all copies but they arrived five minutes before the meeting and it was too late."

The working group said the 3pm start in Maryport was to allow surrounding villages to hold their 11am services and then attend the larger community one. This was the time the British Legion had held the service and the council carried it on after shouldering responsibility for the event.

The Naval presence recognised Maryport's seafaring past and the crews of HMS Biter and Charger stay in Maryport and support the services here.

The report also said that Covid had changed last year's event and, because of age and the fact that a decision about the parade could not be made earlier, meant that the Flimby Band was not available.

Mr Kirkbride runs a security firm and offered his staff to organise the road crossing.

the working party agreed it would pursue a "non-cost"solution but Mr Kirkbride said he had offered the service for free.

"I am a bit miffed that there was no discussion and the Army will not get more representation," he said.

He added: "It would be possible for the deputy mayor to attend some services and the mayor the others - that would allow for an 11am service."