The soldiers have exercised their Freedom of South Ribble and will be marching through Leyland on December 2.

They will be joined by a Challenger 2, the Army's main battle tank, which is on rare visit to the North West.

Around 150 soldiers of The King's Royal Hussars will take part and the public are being urged to show their support by turning out.

As well as the Challenger 2, which will be the undoubted star of the show, the regiment will also be displaying two of its Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles.

Coun Barrie Yates, Mayor of South Ribble, said: "It will be an honour and a privilege to once again welcome The King's Royal Hussars to exercise their Freedom of the Borough."

The last time the soldiers held a similar event was in 2003 when they were inspected by the then South Ribble Mayor Jon Hesketh.

Since then, the regiment has deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan.

The KRH has long and proud connections with North West England, and with Lancashire in particular.

Many KRH soldiers are recruited from this region and, although its soldiers are currently based in barracks in Tidworth, Hampshire, the regiment's northern administrative headquarters is based within Fulwood Barracks in Preston.

The 14/20th Hussars, which amalgamated with the Royal Hussars in the 1990s, was first given the Freedoms of South Ribble and Preston in 1992.

Major Trevor Winchcombe, KRH HQ Squadron Leader, said: "We are delighted to be able to exercise the freedom of South Ribble and Preston as it has been five years since we last had the opportunity to.

"Many of the soldiers on parade are from the Lancashire area, and all have served on operations in either Afghanistan or Iraq in the last 12 months. We are here to reconfirm our ties with the local community."

A similar parade will take place in Preston on December 3.

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