ONE of the main Protestant Loyal Orders has agreed to re-route a Remembrance Day march through an area of Glasgow's east end.

Representatives of Apprentice Boys of Derry made the decision to bypass the Gallowgate days ahead of a 'last resort' meeting where Police Scotland was due to spell out its concerns over disorder if the march was allowed to go-ahead.

Police Scotland had informed Glasgow City Council of their concerns that the parade would take them past pubs it described as having an Irish Republican-supporting clientele.

It had said "that should this parade take place, there would be a high risk of public disorder and a high risk of disruption".

Last week it was revealed that the Apprentice Boys' parade this Sunday faced the prospect of being banned from the Gallowgate after talks reached a stalemate.

But it is understood that an approach by individuals with influence locally to the Apprentice Boys hierarchy in Scotland led to a change of heart.

One source said the proposal to march through the Gallowgate was the plan of some of the group's more militant local members.

It is also understood that during discussions about accepting the Police Scotland proposed route, senior Apprentice Boys expressed concern about potential damage to the organisation's reputation by insisting on parading through the Gallowgate, as well as fears over tarnishing Remembrance Sunday.

Had the meeting, essentially where the council enforces changes to a planned parade following a breakdown of talks between parade organisers and the police, gone ahead, it would have been the first time the Apprentice Boys had appeared before the panel.

One source said: "It wasn't a case of the Apprentice Boys rolling over. Three times in the recent past there's been issues with their routes and they've agreed. They've a good relationship with the council."

No-one was available for comment from the Apprentice Boys Scottish Amalgamated Committee.