A leading Orangeman has stressed the "low-key" and "dignified" nature of a contentious parade taking place in north Belfast.

Spencer Beattie, Belfast county grand master, was speaking to the News Letter ahead of the march up the Crumlin Road on Saturday morning.

The Parades Commission had allowed the parade over the objections of the Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents Association (CARA), with Mr Beattie saying that "common sense prevailed".

The parade sets off at 9am going from Woodvale Parade, up the Crumlin Road, and north to Ligoniel.

That takes it past the Twaddell roundabout / shopfronts, which is an interface between the republican-dominated Ardoyne and the loyalist-dominated greater Shankill.

Orange parades up the road in the past have been banned by the commission, leading to the volatile 2013-16 Twaddell standoff.

The Parades Commission ruled that Saturday's parade was permissible, partly because of being held so early, and rejected CARA's appeal against that decision (though it intends to hold a protest on the day).

However it has banned any music from being played between Twaddell roundabout and Hesketh Road.

"Purely I see it as a low key event," said Mr Beattie.

"We will be as dignified as we always are. From the roundabout to Hesketh, there's no music at all, no drumbeat. That's fair enough - the decision is made and we'll abide by that decision."

He added: "You could say this approach could have been adopted by the Parades Commission some time back."

Could this be the shape of things to come?

"I've learned over many years in parading issues in Belfast in particular that you do not try to put any conclusion to what has been a determination.

"You accept the determination for what it is and move on."

He added: "It's major that the Parades Commission have looked at it favourably. It means we'll just be making the same presentations going forward on any parade we apply for in that area…

"We'll have nothing there that will raise any tension in the area.

"We'll parade through the shopfronts up to Hesketh and beyond in a manner that befits the order to which we belong."

This parade is slated to involve 60 members of the Pride of Ardoyne Flute Band, playing only hymn music, along with 30 Orangemen from three lodges: Ligoniel True Blues 1932, Ballysillan LOL 1891, and Earl of Erne LOL 647.