MORE than 200 military personnel complete with guns and vehicles could march through Hexham this summer.

Members of Hexham Town Council agreed to support a request from Tynedale's only regular army regiment to march through the town this summer.

At a meeting of the town council on Monday Coun. Trevor Cessford asked members to support a request from the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (3RHA), based at Albemarle Barracks near Harlow Hill, made to Northumberland County Council to march through Hexham on either July 15 or 16.

He said: "This will be a huge event with over 200 personnel, military vehicles and guns etc, before an official ceremony. 3RHA were given this right after being granted the freedom of Northumberland, the highest honour the County can bestow upon them, in a parade and service in Hexham on November 12, 2014."

Coun. Cessford, also county councillor for Hexham Central with Acomb, said Hexham's residents "have always had a strong bond with the armed services, turning up in their droves for Remembrance Day services and Armed Forces Day."

He added: "To support our troops is not to be an advocate of war and I want to make that point clear, but it is to show our appreciation for what they do in this service and for the protection of all of us.

"They should be able to parade through the streets of Northumberland and see and hear the support and thanks that the residents of our town want to bestow on them."

All councillors voted in favour of the proposal.