The borough's elected mayor has pledged to help the Royal British Legion (RBL) organise a Veterans' Day parade this year as well as an annual commemoration each June recognising the event.

The Free Press last week exclusively revealed that the Legion had been told by the council's civic office that it could not march through the town centre to mark Veterans' Day because of a lack of facilities.

The bombshell came after Doncaster's gay pride event and a civic parade were allowed to go ahead.

Mr Winter met with the RBL to find a solution to the problem and said the meeting discussed what would be an appropriate commemoration of the veterans' contribution to Doncaster life.

He said: "When I heard of the nonsense about not holding a parade I immediately ordered that the Legion should be helped.

"I would like to do more than hold an annual parade and properly honour the veterans contribution to defending the nation and upholding all we believe in.

"I would like to see a proper commemoration and event and have agreed to work with the Legion on this."

Veterans' Day was set up by the Government in 2006 to celebrate the achievements of ex-servicemen. Usually parades are held on June 27 but events marking the day can be held throughout the year.

It is hoped this year's Veterans' Day march will take place before Remembrance Sunday - which honours Britain's war dead.

Mr Winter also wants to look at holding an event this year to mark the centenary of the Territorial Army.

Ken Wood, 46, the Legion's Doncaster district secretary and Gulf War veteran, was accompanied at the meeting by 83-year-old Drummond 'Spike' Windows, MBE, from Hatfield, who spent more than 40 years in the
military.

Mr Wood said: "We have nothing against the other parades we were just annoyed they could go ahead and ours could not.

"I am really glad the mayor has made this offer."