WITH colours flying and drums beating, scores of uniformed Army personnel marched through Winchester at the weekend to the sound of a military band.

The troops, from the Army Training Regiment based at the Sir John Moore Barracks on the outskirts of the city, were there to receive the freedom of the city from the Mayor, Cllr Jean Hammerton.

The procession, watched by hundreds of shoppers and families, started out from the Peninsula Barracks on Romsey Road shortly after 11am and headed down hill past the Westgate and along the high street.

Outside the Guildhall, the regiment came to attention and saluted the Mayor before receiving the official Freedom Scroll giving the brigade the ancient right of Freedom of Entry to Winchester.

The city is one of the British Army's oldest homes. The roots go back to King Alfred's Wessex and the uniting of the kingdom against the Viking threat from the north.

In 1993 the Sir John Moore Barracks in Flowerdown became the new home of the Army Training Regiment, where troops from regiments including Royal Armoured Corps, The Army Air Corps and The Intelligence Corps all receive their basic 12-week training.

Welcoming the city's new guardians, Mayor Hammerton said: "Throughout the last millennium, Winchester has been one of the main operational, training and support centres of the British Army.

"Happily, today's ceremony will reinforce those links and we look forward to continuing our friendly association with the Army for many years to come."

Visitors to Winchester on Saturday were invited to throw their rubbish on the ground - although city bosses say it won't become a regular thing.

The move was made necessary for security reasons, to prevent the march through the city by the Army becoming a possible terrorist target.

Bins along the route, including those on the High Street, were hidden and locked with 'Temporary Security Covers' that are designed to allow security experts to check and then seal off the bins to prevent bombs or explosives being hidden inside them. The covers were removed after the procession had passed, by 12pm on Saturday, and the bins were returned to normal.