COUNCIL leader Liam Smith said he would write to the Anglian regiment and invite them to march in the borough. The soldiers, who carry the borough banner, may be asked to parade in Barking and Dagenham after opposition leader, Cllr Bob Bailey, suggested

COUNCIL leader Liam Smith said he would write to the Anglian regiment and invite them to march in the borough.

The soldiers, who carry the borough banner, may be asked to parade in Barking and Dagenham after opposition leader, Cllr Bob Bailey, suggested the idea at an Assembly meeting last week.

It was floated as an amendment to a motion by Cllr Bob Little thanking voluntary groups for their part in Armed Forces Week.

Cllr Bailey said that soldiers should be allowed to march through the borough with their rifles and bayonets.

The motion thanking organisations who helped make armed forces week a huge success was carried by a majority verdict.

The amendment was lost.

Mayor Cllr Charles Fairbrass added that he would like see a fixed day put in place to celebrate the work of servicemen and women each year.

He said: "I think more people would attend and take part, especially schools, if a date were fixed.