FEARS that Prestwich may not hold a commemoration to mark the end of the First World War have been allayed, after hero residents and councillors stepped in to save the day.

In recent months there had been concerns that Prestwich may go without its annual Remembrance Sunday parade this year.

Plans for the commemoration had become derailed after the town's Royal British Legion branch shut down and the event organiser became ill.

However residents have united to come to the rescue, guaranteeing a service in Prestwich will now go ahead.

The news follows an emergency public meeting held at the Church Inn on Wednesday where details were ironed out.

Sedgley Ward Councillor, Cllr Alan Quinn, said: "The Royal British Legion in Prestwich has shut down and the person who usually organises this is ill, so it looked like there wouldn't be a Remembrance parade.

"We said this is unacceptable. This is important, it's exactly 100 years since the guns fell silent."

Plans have now been put in place for a parade which will depart from outside the Longfield Suite at around 10.30 am on Remembrance Sunday.

It will then make its way to the war memorial at the junction of St Mary's Road and Rectory Lane, where a service will be lead by ex-service personnel.

Music will also be provided for the event by the Besses o' th' Barn Band.

There are also plans for a second commemorative event and wreath laying at a new oak tree, which will be planted in St Mary's park to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.

Much of the expense for these events will come out of councillor's personal budgets.

Cllr Quinn said: "This is a good result because there was a lot to do and concerns that the service would not go ahead. But the people of Prestwich came forward ­— many being ex-service people.

"It was a really great team effort from everyone. I would like to say a big thank you to the people of Prestwich for coming forward.

"I expected nothing less but it really shows the mentality of the people in Prestwich, because there is no way that the town was going to be the only one without a parade this year."

He added that all future Remembrance Commemorations in Prestwich will now be organised by residents using the same model.