A LAST-MINUTE change of heart by Surrey County Council will mean a full road closure for this Sunday's Remembrance Day Parade and service at Haslemere war memorial.

Originally only one side of the High Street was to be closed, leading to fears for the safety of people attending the ceremony, to honour the dead of two world wars and other conflicts.

But on Monday it was revealed that after discussions with SCC, both sides of the road would remain closed for the parade and service.

Debbie Gale, the unit leader of 1st Shottermill Brownies, who had considered keeping Brownies away from their traditional place in the ceremony, said she was "thrilled".

"I feel that somebody has listened to us," she said.

Her comments in The Herald were among those which sparked off a row following a decision taken after the Remembrance Service two years ago to close off only one side of the High Street for the parade.

Last year, after SCC's refusal to close both sides of the road, two ex-servicemen - Adrian Luff and David Pope- took matters into their own hands and stood in the road to halt the traffic during the two-minute silence and service.

The chairman of the Haslemere branch of the Royal British Legion, Les Cobbett, who also wrote to The Herald about the cramped conditions of the parade, stressed the importance of encouraging organisations and young people who make up the march to continue to carry on the tradition.

"I am very pleased indeed. It means a lot to us; we can parade in safety and honour our dead without the fear of an accident," said Mr Cobbett.

Haslemere's mayor Stephen Mulliner, who had also campaigned to keep both sides of the road open, was also pleased about the U-turn by SCC.

"It's nice that SCC actually listened to local people's feelings," said Mr Mulliner.

The senior engineer for SCC, Les Gillingham, said the council had decided on the full closure of the top end of the High Street, because a change in the start of the parade to 11 am, had led to organisers expecting more people to take part.

"It was because of the additional information we received," he said.

This year, the Civic Service will be held in St Bartholomew's Church at the earlier time of 10 am, and at this service the banners and flags of local organisations will be presented as normal.

However, the period of silence will not be held in the church.

After the service, which will finish at a about 10-40 am, all will proceed with Haslemere Town Band, from the church to the War Memorial in the High Street.

The Rector, the Rev Norman Jones, will lead a short service, followed by a two-minute silence at 11 am to coincide with acts of remembrance in London and throughout the country.