THE Accrington Pals are finally to be honoured with the freedom of Hyndburn - on the 84th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

Although the 11th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment no longer exists, the freedom of the borough is to be conferred on the Pals' successors, the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, on July 1.

At the Somme on July 1, 1916, 235 Accrington Pals were killed and 350 more were wounded in just 20 minutes.

Hyndburn Council approved plans to mark the Pals' contribution two years ago, but decided that the freedom scroll should be handed over to the Queen's Lancashire Regiment after they returned from a two-year tour of duty in Northern Ireland.

The Pals hailed from all towns in the Accrington district, and also had platoons from Burnley, Blackburn and Chorley.

Cath Thom, of Lynwood Avenue, Clayton-le-Moors, whose father William Gilmartin was in the Accrington Pals, said: "This has been long overdue and I feel very proud." Former Mayor Maurice Cowell said: "We have fought long and hard to get the recognition for these wonderful men, many of whom did not come home."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.