More than 150 soldiers are to march through Telford next month in a spectacular tribute to their bravery when their regiment is awarded the Freedom of the Borough.

Telford & Wrekin Council has for the first time bestowed its highest honour on soldiers from the Rifles Regiment.

It is one of the largest infantry regiment in the Army and is based at the Copthorne Barracks, Shrewsbury.

It is the successor to the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) which has links to the county and the borough.

The regiment has seen spells in the Falklands, South Georgia, Kosovo, Belize, Iraq and Afghanistan where they have been actively involved in recent conflicts.

Victor Brownlees, Telford & Wrekin Council boss, said: “This is set to be a very important and special occasion for both the borough and the Rifles Regiment.”

He added: “Last year the council took the decision to bestow the Freedom of the Borough on the Rifles Regiment and we are delighted to be doing this for the first time.

“I am sure everyone living in the borough will join the council in thanking these brave men and women for the outstanding efforts they have made in protecting us and our country and it would be wonderful to see as many people there on the day as possible to show their support.”

The men and women from the Rifles will receive the honour at a ceremony led by the mayor in The Arena at Telford Town Park on May 29. It will be attended by the Colonel Commandant, The Rifles, Lieutenant General Sir Nick Parker, KCB CBE and the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Algernon Heber-Percy.

After the ceremony there will be a parade around the Telford Town Centre box road.

The Rifles Regiment was formed in 2007 from The Devon & Dorset Light Infantry, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire Wiltshire Light Infantry, The Light Infantry and The Royal Green Jackets.

The event will also include the unveiling of the new Remembrance Memorial being created by stonemason Malcolm Sier at Jackfield and will be sited in the Town Park. It will be dedicated at 2.35pm.