RESIDENTS have been warned of gunfire noise as the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery marks the 40th anniversary of its Freedom of Sunderland on Saturday.

The regiment will mark the event with a parade – with eight of its 105mm guns firing a round each from the terrace in Mowbray Park.

Led by the Band of the King's Division, the regiment is stepping off from the Civic Centre at 1pm.

It marches to the Burdon Road War Memorial where it will be inspected by the Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Stuart Porthouse and the Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear Sir Nigel Sherlock.

The city centre parade is due to begin at approximately 1.30pm and and the guns fired at its conclusion at 2.05pm.

Sunderland City Council leader Councillor Paul Watson said: "I hope people will cheer them on and applaud the regiment as it marks its 40th with this parade and firing of guns."

The regiment last fired its guns in Sunderland from Building Hill, Mowbray Park, next to the statue of General Henry Havelock, in July 2008 after returning from its first tour in Afghanistan.