AN ARMY regiment will be exercising its right to parade through Hartlepool later this month.

Soldiers of 3rd Battalion The Rifles march through the town on Saturday, March 21.

The locally-recruited regiment and its reservists are parading as part of the Freedom of the Borough which was granted by Hartlepool Council last September.

It follows in the footsteps of its predecessor the Durham Light Infantry, which was given the same accolade in 1958.

The Rifles, formed in 2007 by the merger of the four Light Infantry and Rifle regiments of the Light Division, is the largest infantry regiment in the British Army and has been involved in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Retired Major Chris Lawton, The Rifles’ Regimental Secretary, said: “Many riflemen serving today have their roots in the North-East, and Hartlepool in particular. The Rifles and their Reserve element, D Rifles Company The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, is immensely proud to have been invited to exercise its Freedom by marching through the town.

“Being granted the Freedom last year was especially poignant for us as it came during the 100th anniversary year of the German bombardment of the Hartlepools – an action in which our forebears the Durham Light Infantry took part, and in which they lost six of their brave men in the defence of the town.”

Hartlepool’s Ceremonial Mayor Councillor Stephen Akers-Belcher said: “I hope as many people as possible will turn out to greet the parade and show their appreciation of the courage and dedication of our local regiment.”

The event will start in Victory Square, where the band and bugles of The Rifles will be playing from 10.30am, followed at 11am by an inspection of the troops and the parade. Route details will be announced soon.