Organisers of a wartime re-enactment event have issued an apology after some participants flouted rules and wore swastikas and Nazi SS uniforms to a 1940s pageant.
The wearing of Nazi insignia and SS uniforms to the event in Heywood, Greater Manchester was banned, although German uniforms were allowed.
Despite this, people could be seen wearing the offensive apparel, with one man even sporting the hate symbol of skull and crossbones of the SS soldiers reported the Manchester Evening News.
"We’re not real Nazis. Everyone enjoys it,” one person wearing a Nazi uniform told the MEN.
Re-enactors dressed as Nazi soldiers at 1940s day celebrations in Heywood
The incident has caused concern after participants at similar events flouted rules to dress up as Nazi soldiers.
At a wartime reenactment in Ramsbottom in July, offence was compounded after a Jewish couple were asked to to dress up wearing the yellow star of David.
Merton and Barbara Paul were asked by one of the wartime weekend participants if they would carry battered suitcases, "look poor" and wear the yellow star of David, which was used by Nazis to ostracise and persecute Jews.
Following the latest incident, there have been calls to outlaw the wearing of all German uniforms after some participants flouted the rules of the event again.
Mike Killian, from Unite Against Fascism, called on people to protest against the wearing of such offensive uniforms.
He told the Manchester Evening News: “It’s clearly not a one-off bunch of misguided people who like to dress up. People should be vigilant and protest.”
Heywood Business Group, which organised the event, apologised that the pageant had been eclipsed by the incident.
“We sincerely apologise for any offence caused by some of the uniforms worn on Saturday at the event – this was not meant to be the case.
“In a town which has been marred with such bad press over recent months, we hoped that Saturday’s obvious show of community coming together would and can show Heywood in its true colours.”
The area has been dogged by racial tension over the past months after a gang of Asian men were convicted of grooming young girls for sex.