St Saviour says it is unhappy with changes made to the parade

The Battle Association of St Saviour says it wants to concentrate on fund-raising for next year's parade instead.

Changes have been made to this year's event which will mean floats only pass spectators once on a shortened route.

Association chairman Peter Blake said entering a float would mean too many man-hours for what he said would amount to about half an hour in the parade.

Pay fee

"We are not against change, but I don't think these things have been thought through properly," he said.

"We felt that 35 minutes on parade for all the hours we would put in was not worth it."

Meanwhile, the Band of the Island is to play at the Battle of Flowers this year after all.

An as yet unnamed donor has come forward to pay the group's �800 fee.

'Felt sad'

Battle organisers had said they could not afford to pay that amount and the band was forced to pull out.

But band chairman Owen Wiscombe said he was delighted with the news.

"The band, which is 128 years old, has been associated with the Battle of Flowers since it first came into being.