An Armed Forces Day procession has been cancelled just hours before the celebrations were due to take place, leaving locals disappointed.
Peterborough City Council announced on Saturday that the civic procession, to mark the annual celebration, would not go ahead due to what it called "unforeseen circumstances".
A council spokesman said: "Thank you also to all of the acts and stallholders who made Saturday happen – it is so important to recognise the work of our military personnel, past and present.
"Unfortunately, our civic procession planned for Saturday morning [June 28] has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, but hopefully all of those who [previously] attended enjoyed the two events which supported the Armed Forces Community."
An Armed Forces Day procession has been cancelled just hours before the celebrations were due to take place
Peterborough City Council
Locals have taken to social media to express their outrage at the decision.
One wrote: "I'm lost for words."
Another added: "Given that we are at war with Russia, it's a great shame not enough young people want to die for their country any more"
The council blamed "operational reasons" for the sudden cancellation due to insufficient cadet instructors available.
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Peterborough City Council announced on Saturday that the civic procession would not go ahead
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Replying to disappointed members of the community, Peterborough Council said: "It is mainly down to operational reasons; one is that there would be an insufficient ratio of cadet instructors to cadets available for the day, with other events proceeding locally at the same time.
"It is disappointing but we have already had two events this week which have gone well."
However, Peterborough did commemorate the occasion, which takes place every year on the last Saturday of June, with an Armed Forces Family Fun Day on Saturday, June 21, in Cathedral Square, as well as the raising of the flag on June 23 at the Town Hall.
Jason McNally, the council's Armed Forces champion, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he was "disappointed," but the situation was out of his control.
Armed Forces Day takes place every year on the last Saturday of June
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He said: "It's unfortunate, but we had a good Armed Forces Family Fun Day, people seemed to enjoy that, and the raising of the flag was good as well.
"We can only work on a better one for next year and keep up the good work."
Earlier in June, the Scottish Council of Clackmannanshire cancelled their parade, claiming it "can't justify the event" due to low numbers of participants.
GB News Charlie Peters is marking the day by taking part in the 13 Bridges Challenge, a 10-mile route through London, to raise money for veterans and their families.
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