The Army erected the barrier across the road close to Drumcree chuch

A barrier blocking the road to the church has been put into place and soldiers are putting up fencing on Saturday.

A convoy of Army vehicles, loaded with heavy fortifications including heavy earth moving equipment, concrete blocks and fencing has also arrived.

Army engineers have erected fences in the fields adjacent to Drumcree Road.

The Army have also put up barriers around St John's Roman Catholic church at the top of the Garvaghy Road and there is an Army presence along part of the parade route in Obins Street in Portadown.

The area is quiet and Assistant Chief Constable Stephen White said he believed feelings on the issue were less heated this year than in previous years.

See the full route of the Orange Parade In detail

"I hope that in the background there are things happening, people who are appealing for calm, and I think those appeals are being listened to," he said.

"People are working on the resolution of this dispute but I can't speak for how everyone is receiving the advice they are being given."

In just over 24 hours, Portadown Orange Lodge will arrive at Drumcree parish church from where they will attempt to march back into Portadown via the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road, against the wishes of residents.

As for the previous five years, they will find their way blocked following a ruling by the Parades Commission which ruled that Sunday's parade must use an alternative route.

Last year, a scaled down security operation had to be rapidly reinforced when violence broke out.

County Armagh members of the Protestant Orange Order gave their backing for proposals aimed at ending the dispute at a meeting in Portadown on Thursday night.

The proposal is that the march would bring to an end the protest which began in 1998 at Drumcree Church, when the homeward route of the Orangemen was blocked by the security forces.

In future years, Portadown district lodge would continue to apply to walk its traditional route but accepts that the agreement of the residents would be required.

If that consent is withheld, there would be no resumption of the Drumcree protest.

Over the years, there has been serious violence directed against the police and Army at Drumcree.

The lodge's annual parade and church service commemorates the anniversary of the battle of the Somme and traditionally takes place on the first Sunday of July.

The Orangemen have now said they are awaiting a response from the government to the proposals.

The Orange Order wants Jonathan Powell, the prime minister's chief of staff, to chair any talks with the nationalist residents of the Garvaghy Road.

Garvaghy Road residents spokesman Breandan MacCionnaith said he believed the Parades Commission's decision would stand.

'Dignified'

He said the residents group had not been involved in any talks so far.

Meanwhile, the president of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Reverend Jim Rea, has appealed to everyone involved in the dispute to seek agreement.

The Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, also appealed for those attending the service at Drumcree Parish Church on Sunday to behave in a "calm and dignified manner".

A number of sources told the BBC they believed the proposals, which mark a significant shift in the local Orange position, had come too late to resolve this Sunday's Drumcree parade, but said it could be the basis for future discussions.