Duke of Lancaster's homecoming parade route revealed

Full details have been released on the event, which will see the town centre brought to a standstill to honour our soldiers.

The 1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment arrived back in England following a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Some 120 uniformed soldiers from across East Lancashire will exercise the regiment’s right under the Freedom of the Borough to march through town on Wednesday, December 1.

And people are being urged to “join the parade” by lining the streets to give them a hero’s welcome.

A special homecoming service will take place at Blackburn Cathedral before the parade and a civic reception at King George’s Hall.

The event will begin at 12pm with the service at the cathedral.

The service will last 45 minutes and, at 12.45pm, the parade will begin, culminating at King Georges Hall at 1.15pm.

The parade will see the soldiers march from the cathedral, down Darwen Street, before turning up St Peter Street, along Mincing Lane and through Astley Gate to Lord Street.

At the bottom of King William Street, the route will go past the town hall, where deputy mayor Karimeh Foster will take the salute.

The parade will lead up to Sudell Cross, along Northgate and end at King George’s Hall.

There will be 16 road closures in place between 7am and 2pm, while three town centre car parks will also be shut.

To allow for the road closures, on-street parking will be suspended on Barton Street, Blakey Moor, Darwen Street, Duke Street, King Street, King William Street, Museum Street, Northgate, Richmond Terrace, Simmons Street and Tackett Street.

Access to the Mall car park will be via Ainsworth Street only.

The Dean of Blackburn, the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong, said the event would give residents the chance to “express relief, show gratitude and pray for an improvement in Afghanistan”.

Click on the link below for a larger map of the route.