WAR veterans paraded proudly past York Minster as the city marked the 61st anniversary of the crucial air victory which saved Britain from invasion.

The Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Irene Waudby, and the station commander of RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Group Captain Ken Cornfield, took the salute as members of veterans' associations and air cadet units marched past the Minster.

The parade was led by the band of 110 City of York Air Training Corps Squadron and included standards from the Royal Air Forces Association, the Aircrew Association, the Air Gunners' Association and 20 Group Royal Observer Corps.

Hundreds filed into the Minster for the Battle of Britain service of thanksgiving and rededication at which Group Captain Cornfield turned a page in the RAF Book of Remembrance.

Updated: 11:40 Monday, September 17, 2001