ORGANISERS are hoping the annual Ribble Valley Scout’s St George’s Day parade will go ahead this year after being cancelled for the first time in 100 years in 2014.

Bosses are expected to make an announcement at the end of the week that the parade will go ahead and are hoping around 200 youngsters will take part in an event that has always proved popular with people throughout the valley.

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Last year Lancashire police backed out of marshalling parades and walks in the county, citing budget cuts.

The decision left plans for the parade in tatters as the Scouts did not have enough time to train volunteer marshals and organisers were forced to call the whole thing off at the last minute.

This year, events to mark St George’s Day will be held on Sunday, April 26, and the proposed parade will culminate with a special service at St Mary Magdalene’s Church in the town.

Last year’s event was due to play a prominent part of Clitheroe Scouts’ centenary celebrations before being called off.

Organiser Richard Marshal said: “I have been speaking to Lancashire County Council highways department who rang me up out of the blue and wanted to work something out to make sure the parade took place this year.

“When I first started looking into holding it this year I was getting nowhere because no official seemed too keen.

“Things have moved on since then and it’s looking a lot more hopeful.

“I’m looking to officially announce that it will be held by the end of the week.

“I have been told that as long as I can get enough responsible adults to make sure that they are there to stop children running in the road then we can have the parade.”

Clitheroe Scout chairman Mary Robinson said: “It was very disappointing last year when we were not able to have the parade.

“It had been going on for 99 years and it was supposed to be part of the centenary.

“Ribble Valley Borough Council has been working very hard on our behalf to help get the parade finalised and I can’t knock them for their effort.

“At the end of the day, if the parade was not held this year for whatever reason, as long as there is a service at the church then that’s the main thing.

“St George is the patron saint of scouting after all.

“It would be great to have a parade this year and I hope we can get a deal done to ensure the parade goes ahead.”