Crowds warmly applauded the Gurkhas as they were granted the freedom of Sandgate. The regiment marched through the town and paraded in glorious Bank Holiday Monday sunshine in front of a mass of enthusiastic spectators.

The soldiers, with a pipe band, marched from Military Road and down the High Street to the Sir John Moore memorial at the Esplanade.

There the freedom was conferred to them by Sandgate Mayor Cllr Geoffrey Boot .

He was joined on the podium by Major David Robinson, Second in Command of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, and Lord Astor, Deputy Lord Lt of Kent.

Cllr Booth said after the ceremony: "This is a tribute to the Gurkhas and all they do here. They have become part of the community and the honour is long overdue in Sandgate."

Major Robinson said: "It is nice to be honoured in this way. We have a good relationship with the community."

Other guests at the ceremony included Cllr Peter Gane, Mayor of Folkestone, which gave the Gurkhas the freedom of its town four years ago.

The Gurkhas are mainly based just outside Sandgate, in Sir John Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe, but several live in other parts of Shepway as well as Dover and Ashford.

Full report and pictures in this week's Kentish Express