Priest attacks council ban on Easter march

A priest has hit out at a London council after it banned Christians from marching 400 yards on their annual Good Friday procession.

Brent council told churches in Willesden it had been contacted too late to approve a road closure order for April 22.

Father Hugh MacKenzie, of St Mary Magdalen Catholic church, said: "One wonders whether the council would have had more flexibility if this involved a homosexual rights or Islamic group.

"Our march is a long-standing tradition here - a chance for us to get together and do something public.

"The idea of procession and journey is important in the Christian faith."

The council said: "We have to follow a strict legal procedure to issue a closure order so people can march in the road. It takes about five weeks."