The name of the Royal Marine who lived in Skipton and was killed in the Iraq conflict may never be added to the town's war cenotaph.

His family have yet to decide even whether they will allow Philip Guy's name to be included on the memorial in Aysgarth, the North Yorkshire town in which he grew up.

The decision has meant former Royal Marine Alex Bentley, of Skipton, must cancel his arrangements for a special memorial ceremony in the town.

His plan - before he had got confirmation from Capt Guy's family - was to hold a special service in Holy Trinity Church, Skipton, followed by a marching band to the cenotaph for the unveiling of a plaque.

But Anne Guy, mother of the 29-year-old commando, who was one of the first to die in the conflict, said no decision had yet been made whether to have a memorial in his home village, never mind Skipton.

"When Helen and I decide what we want we will get in touch with the British Legion. We are letting things settle down.

"People think they are doing good, but end up getting things wrong," she said.

She had also been distressed by her belief that Skipton was "claiming" Capt Guy as one of its sons when he had only lived in the town a short time.

Mr Bentley, service secretary for the Skipton Branch of the Royal British Legion said he had now contacted the family and learned that they did not want a ceremony in Skipton. He said it was always his wish that the family should have the final say on whether there was a memorial.

He had put forward the idea because he felt strongly that the Royal Marine should be remembered in the town.

Capt Guy was married at Holy Trinity Church, Skipton, and set up home in the town with his wife Helen, 30, in January 2000.

She gave birth on April 1 this year to a baby girl, 11 days after Capt Guy was killed in a helicopter crash. The couple also have a 20-month-old son.