POLICE will not marshal Canvey’s annual remembrance parade as a result of police cuts.

Instead volunteers have stepped forward to make sure the island’s annual parade will go ahead.

Organisers have branded the cuts “disgusting” and say they are “sad” police will no longer take part in the Canvey parade.

Angie Wynn, the legion’s Canvey branch secretary and poppy appeal organiser, said: “We need someone at the front of the parade in a car and at the back we used to have a police car.

“It’s pretty disgusting, it’s only one day a year and let’s be fair without these veterans we wouldn’t be here. It’s a real insult and a real disappointment.”

Essex Police announced major cuts to its services earlier this month with all but 60 of the county’s 250 PCSO’s set to lose their jobs and police stations including Canvey being closed to the public.

In previous years a handful of police officers and a police car have marshalled the parade to ensure it runs smoothly.

The legion says car firm Jade Autos will supply a car to follow the parade with an orange flashing light.

Mrs Wynn said: “We have some volunteers that are prepared to help us on this because we have to have some marshals.

“We used to have two policemen and a police car and having the police presence makes a real difference with the traffic.

“We have a letter from the police to say there will be no police at the parade. Wickford and Rayleigh haven’t got it either, it’s not just us.

“Our parade marshal has spoken to a sergeant on Canvey and we can’t have any police, there are no police.

“We’re going to have to have legion volunteers, we want the parade to go ahead.”

This year’s parade is due to take place on Sunday November, 8 with the parade leaving Runnymede Hall at 10.15am before making its way across the island to The Paddocks for a service at 10.40am by Canon David Tudor with a two minute silence at 11am.

Mr Tudor said: “This community will always find a way through, it’s a community activity and last year 1,300 people came even though it’s open air and it’s in November. The community will honour those who fell and served as always.”

Mrs Wynn warned the cuts may also impact the borough’s annual Armed Forces Day event.

She said: “There’s going to be a similar problem on Armed Forces Day and it’s all to do with cutbacks and I’m sad to say that this is about the safety of the community and I’m really disappointed.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We anticipate that there will be more than 80 separate Remembrance Day events taking place across Essex on Sunday November, 8. “We recognise the importance of such services to the local community and have provided help and guidance to organisers about planning their event.

“Many officers will either formally or informally attend and support ceremonies across the county on Remembrance Sunday.

“Responsibility for road closures for pre-planned events lies with the local authority but officers will, as usual, assist at any emergency or traffic incident that occurs during the event.”