MORE than 100 soldiers exercised their honorary right to march through a North Yorkshire town as its Freemen, after returning from a gruelling tour in Afghanistan.

The troops were all from the 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police, also known as the Red Caps, and have just returned from Task Force Helmand, where they have just returned from a six-month tour.

While stationed there, the troops were under the command of the 4th Mechanized Brigade, the lead formation of the task force.

Today (Thursday, May 9), the troops, who are all members of 150 Provost Company, marched through Richmond as Freemen of the town.

They were joined by colleagues from the RAF Police and Territorial Army soldiers from 252 Provost Company Stockton-on-Tees and 243 Provost Company Livingston, who supported them on tour.

After the parade, the soldiers were presented with their Afghanistan operational medals at Richmond Castle by the Mayor of Richmond, Councillor Stuart Parsons.

Other guests at the parade included Colonel Pat Cairns, Deputy Provost Marshal Investigations, Colonel Amy Purlock, Provost Marshal United States Army Europe, Colonel Jeremy Green OBE, Regimental Secretary Royal Military Police and Wing Commander Steven McCleery, Deputy Provost Marshal RAF Police.