TOTTON residents have been warned that yesterday's Remembrance Sunday parade through the town may have been the last.

The Royal British Legion has repeated its earlier warning that more volunteers are needed if next year's procession is to go ahead. Many of the ex-servicemen who help organise the parade feel they are getting too old to continue.

The Remembrance Sunday service is not under threat but the procession before and after the event will not take place next November unless new helpers step forward. The announcement was made at the end of yesterday's service.

Legion member Rodney Hawkins told the crowd: "This could well be the last time we parade through the streets of Totton.

"We need parade marshals, base drummers and standard bearers. Unless circumstances change, we will not be parading next year."

Yesterday's parade began at Beaumont Road, where the marchers assembled before making their way to the war memorial behind the civic centre in Library Road.

The procession was led by former RAF Pipe-Major Brian Peters, who continued playing the bag pipes throughout the wreath-laying ceremony.

New Forest East MP Dr Julian Lewis and David Harrison, chairman of Totton and Eling Town Council, were among those who laid wreaths.

Later, the names of 167 Totton residents who were killed in the two world wars were read out.

The service was conducted by the Rev Mark Prevett, team rector of the Totton Team Ministry, who urged residents to remember the sacrifices and achievements of previous generations.

David Scott, chairman of New Forest District Council, attended a similar service at nearby Copythorne.

He said: "Many families in the Forest have been affected by past and current conflicts and this is a time for people to remember the sacrifices of those in the armed forces."