Members of an Army regiment are set to be made freemen of Telford & Wrekin.

Councillors will tonight be asked to approve the granting of Freedom of the Borough to The Rifles.

Councillor Andrew Eade, council leader, will move a motion to make members of The Rifles Honourary Freeman of the Borough of Telford & Wrekin.

He said: “This is in recognition of the service of generations of local men and women in all branches of the forces and in honour of the borough’s historic links with the former Kings Own Shropshire Light Infantry – of which The Rifles is the successor regiment.”

“And the common seal of the council be affixed to an honourary freedom scroll to be presented to the regiment at a separate ceremony, with an associated community based event to take place in Telford Town Park.”

Last year, Telford MP David Wright called on the council to consider offering the status to armed forces.

He said: “I, along with a large number of people in Telford, recognise the commitment and hard work a great many people put into defending our nation and fighting to preserve freedoms around the world.”

This year, an 86-year-old former councillor was given Freedom of the Borough status. Peter Gibbons was given the honour for 52 years’ service to local government.