About 150 marchers and a band from the Protestant Loyal Order have been given permission for the march from Green Drive to Portland Place via Culduthel Road and the east bank of the River Ness as the group set up a new branch in the city.

The historical organisation commemorates the siege of Derry in 1689 but in the past there has been controversy over its parades in other areas where there have been violent clashes.

Although a similar march was banned in Inverness about 20 years ago, the organisation's general secretary defended the event.

Billy Moore is one of 12 officials travelling from Northern Ireland to take part in the event which will culminate in the formation of the Inverness Campsie Club.

"A number of members joined the Apprentice Boys in Perth from Inverness and then they applied to open a new club of their own in Inverness," Mr Moore said.

"Obviously, Inverness is new territory for us and we are pleased the Apprentice Boys association is going to be represented in Inverness.

"We expect it to be strong around Glasgow but to expand in the north of Scotland is something we are proud of and pleased."

"The Apprentice Boys are open to all members of the reformed faith," he added.

But former district councillor Sheila Mackay feared the march could stir up religious sectarianism and recalled there was "very strong feeling" locally against such marches in the 1980s.

"In the Highlands, people are pretty laid back and tolerant about our religion," she said. "It was quite clear by the huge response from the public that people did not want that kind of religious sectarianism.

"I think Inverness now embraces a wide range of religions and cultures, but this is sectarianism that is a blight on central Scotland. There is no need for it up here."

The event organisers were given permission for tomorrow's march following consultation between Northern Constabulary and Highland Council which said a balanced approach was adopted in relation to the wishes of the event organisers and the needs of the wider community in terms of their own access to the city centre and desire to go about their own daily business.

"The local authority has a duty to ensure that any public demonstrations or marches that take place in the city pose no risk to public health and safety," a council spokesman said.

Simon Dames, a spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, said people had a right to march. "People have a right to celebrate their culture," he said. "Nobody has the right to be offensive or to attack other cultures — it is a case of pride over prejudice."

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