Community stalwarts refused to be scared-off by reports of an alleged Islamic State (IS) terror threat to an Armed Forced Day Parade in Merton on Saturday.

Organisers of the event which attracts hundreds of people to Morden every year were warned last Tuesday about the alleged threat by terrorists to target the parade with a pressure cooker bomb.

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But the parade, above, went ahead despite this and the fact that the previous day 38 people were shot dead by two gunmen on a beach in Tunisia in a horrifying attack linked to IS.

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L-R Betty Thomas, Yvonne Dekarski and Joan Laker.

The Sun, which broke the story about the foiled bomb plot on Saturday morning, reported it had been considered as a target because Fusiliers from murdered soldier Lee Rigby’s unit usually attend the parade.

But soldiers from the unit did not come this year although other members of the Royal Fusiliers did attend.

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Solidarity: The community stands together in defiance outside the Civic Centre

Extra police offers were drafted in to protect the public and Merton's police borough commander Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Macleod stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the community to prove he was confident in the level of protection.

Organiser Councillor Maxi Martin said once Det Chief Supt Macleod had pledged his personal support, she felt confident about going ahead and it was a successful day.

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Coun Martin said it was the police and anti-terror squad that had to make the decision whether it should go ahead.

She said: "I won’t waiver; we won’t let terrorism take us over.

"To see everyone stood together really made me feel good."

David Heath-Whyte, team rector at St Lawrence Church, Morden, where the event ended, said he heard about the terror threat on the news but joined dozens of others to show their support for the armed forces.

Mr Heath-Whyte, who led a service at the church on the day, said: "We stood there as a community with friendship and respect and trust.

"We don’t know what’s going to happen, no-one knew Tunisia was going to happen, you just have to get on with your normal life."

Coun Martin said she wanted to thank the police and everyone who came to the event for their support.

She added: "We came together to raise our little flag in our little Merton.

"It was really wonderful."

Attendees said the mood was buoyant and everyone seemed in good spirits on the day despite the threat.

The parade began at Abbotsbury Road before passing the Civic Centre in Morden and onto the church.

Local dignitaries including MPs Siobhain McDonagh and Stephen Hammond joined council leader Councillor Stephen Alambritis and other councillors.

Also in attendance were members of the Royal British Legion, army cadets, the Territorial Army, the Scouts, TS Trafalgar, TS Hood, the Gurkhas, a group of buglers, Merton police cadets and the Wimbledon and Wandle Scout Band.

Mayor of Merton, Councillor David Chung raised the Union Flag with the Queen’s Deputy Lieutenant for Merton, Clare Whelan OBE.

A major counter terrrorism exercise is taking place today in central London which aims to test the capital's readiness to deal with a major terrorist attack. It was planned months before the outrage in Tunisia.