MILITARY cadets have been ordered not to wear uniforms on the streets of East Lancashire over terrorism fears.

Navy and army cadets in Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley have been told to either cover their uniform when walking to cadet detachments, or to change when they arrive.

The move follows the murder of soldier Lee Rigby in south east London on Wednesday.

Drummer Rigby, from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was wearing a Help for Heroes sweatshirt when he was hacked to death in a Woolwich street.

Two suspects were shot and arrested at the scene and are still in police custody.

Officer in Charge of Accrington Sea Cadets Mark Thompson said sea cadet forces in Lancashire had received Royal Navy advice to take precautions.

He said: “The safety of the cadets is paramount and when it comes to children, basically it is better safe than sorry.

“Rightly or wrongly when a cadet is in a uniform, sometimes the uniform is more conspicuous than the age of the person wearing it. Who is to say whether they are a cadet or a serving member of the forces?

“Our detachment received an email from the Royal Navy advising our cadets to wear something on top to cover up their uniform when out and about. This is the advice we have passed on to our cadets. We work very closely with the forces and take their advice on these matters.

“It is an age old issue and in the early eighties when the IRA threat was high we were similarly instructed then.”

Following the attack on Drummer Rigby, London military personnel were told not to wear their uniforms off base although this was later relaxed.

During the height of the IRA attacks on the British mainland in the 1970s and 80s members of the armed forces were not allowed to wear their uniforms when off duty.

Marilyn Gregson, from Blackburn, whose 16-year-old son Hadyn is in the Blackburn Army Cadet Force said she was shocked when she was advised it was not safe for him to wear his uniform.

She said: “My son was told not to wear his uniform on the streets but to change when he got there instead.

“I am just stunned that it has come to this because it is such a sad state of affairs. While I am not sorry the cadets are taking precautions, you would think that cadets could wear their uniform with pride in their own country.

“Hadyn wants to be a marine or go into the police force. He is proud of his uniform and we are proud for him to wear it. Though it is necessary it is just awful that our cadets don’t feel safe on the streets.”

Fulwood Barracks, which oversees the army cadet detachments for Blackburn, Barnoldswick, Chorley, Brierfield, Accrington, Burnley, Haslingden, Clitheroe and Rishton, confirmed cadets had been advised not to wear their uniform, although this was later rescinded and it was now a matter for individual groups.

An MoD spokesman said: “We have not issued any orders for cadets not to wear their uniforms - it is a matter for individual detachments to decide on for themselves.”

Hyndburn conservative leader Peter Britcliffe said: “I think it is very important not to over react and unfortunately we often see these sorts of knee jerk reactions after an incident like this. The incident in Woowich was more an act of lunacy than act of terrorism. It is very wrong when in our own country we have to even consider this. It is a very sad situation when cadets can’t be proud of their uniform on the streets of their own country.”

Founder of soldiers charity Salute Keith Shepherd and chairman of Burnley and District Ex Services Club said: “This sort of precaution was common practice when I served in Northern Ireland and we were not allowed to wear our uniforms on the streets.

“However I remember being a cadet and very proud to wear my uniform so it is a sad state of affairs.

“Though I was a proud cadet in my day, now it is different. The fact is that not every cadet looks their age, particularly teenagers. A terrorist would not see a child, they would just see a uniform.”