The BBC have announced that they will include the orchestral version of Land of Hope and Glory and Rule, Britannia without the lyrics after it was suggested they might be scrapped altogether.

Last week, the BBC’s outgoing director-general Lord Hall said the decision to perform new, orchestral versions of the songs was a “creative” one.Traditional anthems will be sung at next year’s Last Night Of The Proms, the BBC has confirmed.

The broadcaster confirmed the move after Prime Minister Boris Johnson made an intervention on the issue.

He called for an end to “self-recrimination and wetness” as the BBC’s chief said it was “right” to remove lyrics from some traditional anthems during this year’s performance.

Lord Hall had confirmed that the issue of dropping songs because of their association with Britain’s imperial history had been discussed.

Martin Toal, the renowned tenor, well-known for singing national anthems at football matches, has, for six years arranged musical events at Altrincham Garrick featuring a last night of the Proms.

Martin said: “I believe it is totally wrong to even talk about the songs being removed.

It is a tradition that people go to enjoy the music and sing along wth it. If you object to it, you don’t go”

Scarlett Quigley, 22, a popular local soprano, who has sung the songs in a medley, said: “A lot of people want to hold on to the current version because it is an important part of British tradition but, perhaps, next year, the words could be changed. I have mixed feelings. The music is beautiful”

Claire Loftus, the Chairman of Sale Chamber Orchestra and a trained opera singer said: “I can see both points of view.

“I hope that next year they will ask more people what they think and how they feel about it and that they will take everything in context,

“What might have been appropriate in 1800 may not be appropriate now but I think it is important to get people’s opinions.”

“I am glad they are keeping the music.”

Andrew Pettitt, a member of the Stamford Orchestra which performs at Altrincham Market Hall, said: “It would be a shame if the lyrics are not used because the songs express the spirit of our nation. However, I can see both sides of the argument. The lyrics are very dated.”

Choir member Mavis Grimshaw, from Sale, said: “I think it is a shame that the BBC have been like this. The Last Night of the Proms is a wonderful programme.I have enjoyed it so much over the years.This year it won’t be the same at all.”

The BBC have pledged that, in 2021 they will return to the original programme.