There will be no victory parade for military personnel who fought in Iraq, the defence secretary has confirmed.

Geoff Hoon told MPs in a written answer that there will be a "service of remembrance and thanksgiving" at St Paul's Cathedral in October.

He announced on Thursday that the decision had been taken "in accordance with the wishes of the armed forces".

"The most appropriate form of commemoration at the national level would be a service of thanksgiving, but without a parade," he wrote.

He revealed that members of the Royal Family, the prime minister and members of the government would attend along with Opposition MPs and representatives of the Australian and US governments.

Among the congregation would be families of the British servicemen who had been killed.

Controversy is also likely to focus on the fact that helping to lead the service will be the new archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who was a vocal opponent of the war in Iraq.

Hoon did not rule out armed forces units being involved in local parades.

"At the regional and local level, there will be opportunities for local communities to arrange events for their local units to mark their involvement in, and return from, the operation," he wrote.