By Ian Austen

ian.austen@essnmedia.co.uk

Soldiers from The Rifles regiment will be officially granted the freedom of entry to Croydon at a special council meeting being held on March 22.

The Rifles are the first regular Army regiment to be granted the honour, although it is already bestowed upon the borough's four Territorial Army units.

The honour is similar to granting the freedom of the borough to individuals and gives The Rifles the right to march through the town centre.

The regiment will be represented at the ceremony and reception on March 22 by the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles and the right to march is expected to be exercised at a later date.

The Rifles have drawn recruits from Croydon for a number of years but the association was cemented further after Shirley soldier Danny Simpson, a member of 2 Rifles, was killed in action in Afghanistan in July last year.

He was the victim of a makeshift bomb in Helmand province as he was helping an injured comrade to safety.

In October, as a direct response to the sympathy and support the people of Croydon showed after Rifleman Simpson's death, The Rifles asked to stage a homecoming parade through the town centre on their return from Afghanistan.

Around 100 soldiers took in the parade which was watched by hundreds of people who turned out in North End.

Mayor Margaret Mead had announced on the day that the regiment would be granted the freedom of Croydon.

She said this week: "We are absolutely delighted the regiment has accepted the invitation and that it is enthusiastic to receive this honour."

The freedom ceremony will take place at 5.30pm in the council chamber in the Town Hall, in Katharine Street, Croydon.