HUGE crowds lined the streets of York yesterday for a special freedom parade to mark the tenth anniversary of The Yorkshire Regiment.

More than 300 soldiers of the regiment marched through York's city centre after forming on Duncombe Place near York Minster, watched by hundreds of spectators.

York's deputy lord mayor, councillor Sonja Crisp, and deputy town clerk, Ian Floyd, presided over the parade.

The salute was taken by Cllr Crisp from a dais with Colonel David Colthup, of The Yorkshire Regiment.

Cllr Crisp said: "It is a magnificent spectacle from where I stand. We are proud of our association with The Yorkshire Regiment.

"Freedom of the city is a rare accolade that the council grants to only the most deserving of regiments.

"This is a proud day for the regiment and an equally proud day for us."

She added: "We remain in awe of the courage and selflessness of the regiment."

Col Colthup called the event an "historic occasion." He said: "We continue to be grateful for the welcome we receive and the close relationship we have with the city."

Many visitors to the town stopped to watch the parade, including Terry Collins, from Kent. He commented: "I am very impressed by what I saw. Today is such an historic day. It is wonderful to see our armed forces on parade."

Jurgen Versluis, who was born and raised in the Netherlands but now lives in Tipton in West Midlands, said: "It's really nice to see a bit of English history. We were lucky to be here today for something that doesn't happen very often."

York resident Andrew Harrison said: "I came out today to support our troops, they do so much for us. I was just taking a bit of time out of my day to honour them."

The deputy lord mayor was joined in taking the salute by members of the York Normandy Veterans who were VIP guests.

The parade started in Duncombe Place and the regiment marched down Blake Street, Davygate, Parliament Street, High Ousegate, Spurriergate, Coney Street to St Helen’s Square, and returned up Blake Street to Duncombe Place.

Freedom of York was first conferred on The West Yorkshire Regiment in 1944, extended to The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire in 1959 and transferred to today’s Yorkshire Regiment in 2006, when the regiment formed in York.

Freedom of Entry to the city means that ‘on all ceremonial occasions’ the regiment have ‘the right, privilege and honour to officers and other ranks, to march through the streets of the said city with colours flying, swords drawn, and bayonets fixed, drums beating, bugles sounding and bands playing.’