THE flags will fly and drums will beat when soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters regiment march through Worcester for the final time.

About 150 soldiers will be in the city to celebrate their Freedom of Worcester under the current regiment name before becoming the 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) next year after the amalgamation with the Cheshires and Staffords.

The parade is due to take place on Saturday, August 5. The soldiers will leave the Territorial Army centre in Silver Street at 11am led by the regiment's mascot, a Swaledale ram called Private Derby.

They will march along City Walls Road, into College Street, past Worcester Cathedral and along the High Street where, outside the Guildhall, they will give a salute to Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Ian Imray, and the Lord Lieutenant of Worcester, Michael Brinton.

Here there will also be a number of ex-servicemen from the regiment's association. Following the salute the soldiers continue to the Corn Market via the High Street and St Swithins Street.

The honour of the Freedom of the City was first awarded to the Worcestershire Regiment in June 1950 and was extended to the 1st Battalion Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment in 1970 when it merged with the Sherwood Foresters Regiment.

The battalion's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Westley MC, said: "All the soldiers are looking forward to taking part in the parade, particularly those soldiers who originate from Worcester. We have a strong recruiting affiliation with the city and we are delighted to have the opportunity exercise the regiment's Freedom of the City."

Major Bob Prophet, the regimental secretary based at Norton Barracks, Worcester, said the parade will be a recruitment drive.

He said: "We are trying to get maximum visibility to try and inspire local youngsters to sign up."

The regiment is currently performing the role of Public Duties Battalion, based in Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow.