Police could be asked to patrol Ashford’s Remembrance service next year after an angry veteran hurled a torrent of abuse at volunteers on Sunday.

Leaders of the town’s Royal British Legion branch say the man – who was trying to get into the Memorial Gardens through the Church Road gates – called two female marshals “vile names” after they shut the entrance to prevent overcrowding.

Police or uniformed service personnel may now be asked to man the gate next year following the incident, which happened just moments before the two-minutes silence at 11am on Sunday.

Retired Major Roy Bingham, chairman of Ashford’s Royal British Legion branch, blasted the veteran’s behaviour.

He said: “I was bitterly disappointed to hear from two female marshals wearing the Royal British Legion poppy hi-vis jackets that they were called vile names and verbally abused because they were instructed not to open the gates in Church Road.

“I was totally amazed and so upset that this vile abuse came from a man who was clearly a veteran wearing his medals.

“Both marshals politely said there was plenty of time to enter the gardens from the Vicarage Lane end, but were both given another bout of verbal abuse.

“This behaviour is totally unacceptable and the likelihood was that this veteran had had a few drinks as he was holding a can of beer.”

Mr Bingham was attending his first Remembrance Sunday service in Ashford after joining the town’s branch last year.

He said he would now work with Ashford Borough Council (ABC) to prevent similar incidents happening next November.

“I will liaise closely with ABC armed forces champion Cllr Stephen Dehnel in the future and, if needs be, will call upon the police or uniformed service personnel to man this gate,” Mr Bingham added.

“It will be interesting to see if the veteran has the same bravado then.

“I always try to look on the positive side of life and almost disregard any negative comments about the legion and especially Remembrance services, but I was bitterly disappointed to hear about what happened.”

Cllr Dehnel said the crowd numbers in the Memorial Gardens were restricted for health and safety reasons.

"I was bitterly disappointed..." - Roy Bingham

He said: “We are proud to support the Royal British Legion in organising the event, which was well received by those who attended.

“The council’s Aspire landscape management service and our contractor, Biffa, ensured the Memorial Gardens were looking their best in preparation of the service, in what was an emotional and poignant ceremony.

“There was restricted access to the War Memorial Gardens to ensure the amount of people in this confined area did not exceed safety levels.

“There was another area in the Memorial Gardens where speakers had been installed and the shrubbery cut back so that members of the public could view and be part of the proceedings.

“Marshals were also on hand at all points to give advice and direction to those who attended.”

For an Ashford Remembrance picture special, pick up this week's Kentish Express