MEMBERS of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment will march through Chorley in celebration next month after receiving the Freedom of the Borough.

Chorley Council agreed to confer the honour in a bid to put on record the borough's appreciation of regiment.

The decision means the regiment and any successor will be able to march through the streets of the town on all ceremonial occasions with "drums beating, bands playing, colours flying and bayonets fixed".

The regiment is about to merge with two other regiments to form the King's Lancashire and Border Regiment as part of Army restructuring announced by Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon.

The regiment will take up the right to march through the town after a special meeting of Chorley Council confers the Freedom of the Borough on them at 10am on Saturday, April 16. The meeting will be held in the Town Hall followed by a service at the Parish Church of St Lawrence in Union Street and presentation of the Freedom Scroll to the regiment at Astley Hall at 11.45am.

The Regiment will then exercise its freedom by marching through Astley Park Park and down Market Street to the "Big Lamp" in and the town centre before a reception at Park Hall in Charnock Richard.

Council leader John Wilson said: "The people of Chorley have a long-standing connection with the regiment and we are full of admiration for them. It is right they have this honour and privilege conferred upon them at this time."

Regimental Secretary Lt Col John Downham MBE said: "We are truly delighted that the close links between the borough and its Regiment will be commemorated by this unique honour."