Soldiers mark Freedom of Borough

The soldiers were met by Borough Mayor Councillor Keith Butcher

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment have marched through Ellesmere Port to mark being awarded the Freedom of the Borough.

The regiment was formed last year when the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment merged with the Staffordshire Regiment and the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters.

The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment was given the Freedom of the Borough in 1986.

About 150 soldiers marched before being met by Borough Mayor Councillor Keith Butcher in Civic Square.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Ian Cave said: "The 1st Battalion the Mercian Regiment may be new in name but it is draped in heritage.

"The antecedent 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment shared great links with the communities from which it recruited its soldiers and the current battalion wishes to retain those links.

"It is the soldiers provided by communities such as Ellesmere Port that compose the backbone of this fine battalion."

He added: "We are honoured to be marching through Ellesmere Port in order to 're-receive' the Freedom of the Borough under our new guise."