York Royal Naval Association has thanked a police band for stepping in to help out when members of the company of HMS York exercised their freedom of the city.

Association spokesman Bernard Hallas said that a Royal Marine band had originally been asked to accompany the parade on Sunday, which involved marching through the streets with bayonets and swords drawn.

This had proved impossible because some members of the marines were otherwise engaged in the Gulf, and the police band had then agreed to perform instead. "I would like to thank them," he said.

Updated: 08:37 Friday, July 18, 2003