A Dorchester priest has apologised to war veterans after confusion over plans to hold a candlelit Aids Vigil in the town.

Veterans in the county town had feared that organisers of an event to mark World Aids Day were planning to hold the vigil near Dorchester's main cenotaph and they called for the event to be moved elsewhere.

The town's branch of the Royal British Legion was inundated with calls from people concerned that the cenotaph was not the right place for such an event.

But organiser of the vigil, the Rev Paul Billen of the Spirit of Hope independent Christian church, said today it had never been his intention to hold a vigil at the cenotaph.

"I would like to apologise to the Royal British Legion if that's the impression they got but we won't be doing anything like that.

"What we have planned is that we will be having a service in the United Church at 6.30pm on December 1 to mark World Aids Day. After that we are planning to go on a small candlelight procession from the United Church in South Street passing the cenotaph and back to the United Church, which is why people could have become confused. We used the cenotaph as a landmark not as a venue."

Ray Voss, chairman of the Dorchester branch of the RBL, said: "I am glad that the matter has been cleared up."

Anyone interested in finding out about the service and the procession is urged to contact Mr Billen on (01305) 250133.