PEOPLE who gathered in Okehampton's Fore Street to watch last Sunday's civic parade have been issued an apology, after it failed to take its customary route through the town.
John Winchester, Okehampton's town clerk, said a letter inviting the police to attend the parade had been sent to the police station, but on the day, no officers were on duty.
Mr Winchester said: 'The procession was supposed to go from Fore Street to All Saints Church — it actually went from Market Street to the church and back again, because it was too dangerous to parade through Fore Street with all the traffic.'
Mr Winchester said a fair crowd had gathered to watch the parade and the council apologised for the sudden change of route.
PC Mark Sloman, of Okehampton Police, said a breakdown in communication was to blame for the lack of police presence last Sunday.
PC Sloman said: 'What we will be doing is working closely with the town council to ensure nothing like this happens again in the future.'