FEARS of violence breaking out at an Orange march at the weekend proved unfounded.

Despite some threats of violence against the marchers, who were accompanied by a significant police presence in North Yorkshire, it passed almost without incident.

The march was the first of its kind in Malton and Norton and it attracted fewer than the anticipated 150 Orangemen because of the threats.

Organiser Malcolm Halder, of the Scarborough-based Lord Louis Mountbatten Lodge, said: "There had even been death threats made."

A flute band from Motherwell, in Scotland, joined the marchers, who came from all parts of the North-East and north of the border.

Accompanied by patrol cars, the march made its way through busy streets filled with weekend shoppers.

At one point a woman was waving a flag and shouting at the marchers while another protestor urged them to return home because, he claimed they were not wanted in North Yorkshire.

Mr Halder said: "In the end we didn't have much opposition. Some people spat at us, but by and large it was a peaceful march."

Inspector Neil Burnett, of Malton police, said it had been incident free and he was pleased with the way it had been run.

The marchers later moved on to Scarborough for another parade.