The Household Cavalry is to be offered the honorary freedom of Watton.Councillors took the unanimous decision to bestow the accolade at their monthly meetings on Tuesday.

The Household Cavalry is to be offered the honorary freedom of Watton.

Councillors took the unanimous decision to bestow the accolade at their monthly meetings on Tuesday.

It will be officially conveyed upon the Blues and Royals at a reception to be held later in the year and will mean the troops can exercise their right to parade through the town.

The ancient tradition of granting honorary freedom dates back to the Middle Ages and is used to recognise people and organisations who have made an important contribution to the town.

Famous for taking their horses for a gallop and swim at Holkham beach, the Blue and Royals were formed in 1969 from an amalgamation of The Royal Horse Guards and The Royal Dragoons.

The regiment spends time each summer at their camp at Bodney, near Watton.