A village had to cancel its Remembrance Sunday parade due to the lack of a police escort.

The event in West Runton, a tradition spanning decades, is organised by the local Scout group and parish council.

Helen Cardani, Scout leader, said the parade was called off "with much regret and a heavy heart".

"With no police escort or a marshal available our scout group would have had to dig deeply into our much-needed funds to employ professional accredited marshals," she said.

Helen Cardani, a leader at West Runton Scout Group.Helen Cardani, a leader at West Runton Scout Group. (Image: Supplied) READ MORE: Driver hits Brownies at Remembrance Sunday service after ignoring road closures

Without an escort, any application for road closures would have been denied.

Instead, participants walked through fields and a caravan park to Beeston Regis church, where they attended a remembrance service. 

A spokesperson for Norfolk Police said: “Any decision to cancel or relocate a parade rests with the organiser.

“Norfolk Constabulary attended several remembrance events across the county last weekend and, as in previous years, Sunday’s event in West Runton was attended by the Cromer Beat Manager.

“Our officers will assist with parades where we can, and when resources and demand allow.

"However, it’s the organisers’ responsibility to arrange the road closures, and monitor the procession, and ensure they have a traffic management plan in place.

"In early October we contacted the organisers and shared with them our concerns regarding the volume of traffic and the route of the parade," the spokesperson added.

Ms Cardani said the Scout group would welcome voluntary offers from accredited marshal teams who would be willing to help next year.

The parade was an important annual event, she said, in which the young members and adult volunteers are proud to take part.