Orange lodges in North join London parade

More than 200 Orange Order members from the North joined their London colleagues today in a march to commemorate the 200th birthday of the Grand Lodge of England.

The event involved more than 3,000 marchers bearing large banners and wearing bowler hats, orange sashes and dark suits, who walked from Hyde Park Corner to the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

Lodges from across the North and throughout Britain travelled to take part in the 200th anniversary celebrations.

"Yes it was a great afternoon," an Orange Order spokesman said.

"Many people don't realise that the Grand Lodge of England features in 43 cities across England."

The march comes just days after the launch of a review of parading in the North under the chairmanship of former British Liberal Democrat party leader Paddy Ashdown.

Parading remains a contentious issue in the North and the review has been set up to examine the work of the Parades Commission which adjudicates on controversial marches.