SOLDIERS were given a hero’s welcome when the 3rd Battalion The Rifles marched through Hartlepool.

The locally-recruited regiment and its reservists were exercising their right to parade as part of the Freedom of the Borough which the regiment was granted last September.

The unit was following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the Durham Light Infantry, which was given the same accolade in 1958.

The event started in Victory Square, where the band and bugles of The Rifles played before inspection of the first, second and third ranks.

This was followed by prayers led by the Reverend Norman Shave, Vicar of Stranton Church and then the ceremonial mayor, councillor Stephen Akers-Belcher presented the present the Freedom of the Borough scroll and a silver salver to Lieutenant General Tim Evans.

Retired major Chris Lawton, The Rifles’ Regimental Secretary (Durham), 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, are immensely proud to have been invited to exercise their Freedom by marching through the town.”

Formed in 2007 by the amalgamation of the four Light Infantry and Rifle regiments of the Light Division, The Rifles is the largest infantry regiment in the British Army and has been involved in combat operations including Operation Telic in Iraq and Operation Herrick in Afghanistan.

Hartlepool’s Ceremonial Mayor Councillor Stephen Akers-Belcher said: “Hartlepool has a long and gallant tradition of military service and our young servicemen and women are prepared to give everything for their country."

Councillor Allan Barclay, the Council’s Armed Forces Champion who is himself a former soldier, added: “Our armed forces do an outstanding job in protecting our country and helping keep people safe around the world and there has never been a more important time to support and thank them.”