ACCRINGTON town centre will come to a halt when the Queen's Lancashire Regiment is awarded the freedom of the borough.

More than 400 soldiers are to march through the town centre accompanied by the Queen's Division Normandy Band in a historic procession with beating drums, colours flying and bayonets fixed.

The Freedom of the Borough will be presented on Saturday June 29 in recognition of the outstanding sacrifice made by the Accrington Pals 11th Service Battalion at the Battle of Somme in World War One.

Coun Ian Ormerod, leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, said: "This is an important and historic event for Hyndburn and we are proud to honour the Queen's Lancashire Regiment in this way.

"I would urge the residents of Hyndburn to come along and witness this once in a lifetime spectacle."

For the duration of the celebrations Accrington town centre will effectively become an island with a number of roads closed by police to carry out searches of the area.

All vehicles must be removed from Blackburn Road -- from Eagle Street to Church Street -- and Union Road before 11am on the Saturday or will be towed away by police.

Owners will be able to collect their vehicles from a secure area later and will not be charged.

Other roads will also be closed and diverts put in place at various points during the proceedings which include a special meeting of the council to officially award the regiment with the freedom of the borough and a celebratory service at the town centre St James' Church.

Inspector Phil Cottam, of Accrington police, said: "There is a requirement to close certain roads in the town centre from 8am on Saturday morning to enable police search teams to carry out necessary searches of the area.

"The closures also mean that disabled drivers will not be able to park along the route between 8am and 2pm on the day."