HUNDREDS of people today turned out to honour brave soldiers at a parade to give them the freedom of the town.

HUNDREDS of people today turned out to honour brave soldiers at a parade to give them the freedom of the town.

Despite the cold, the crowds packed the Cornhill in Ipswich to honour the 150 soldiers from the TA based in Yarmouth Road in the town.

Many of the volunteer soldiers, whose day jobs range from office workers to train drivers, have just returned from deployment in Iraq.

The soldiers were responsible for delivering supplies and guarding convoys to fellow troops based in the Forward Operating Bases in southern Iraq.

Crowds clapped and cheered as the soldiers from the unit, known as 202 (Ipswich) Transport Squadron 158 (Royal Anglian) Transport Regiment Royal Logistics Corps (Volunteers), marched through Westgate Street and on to the Cornhill.

They were inspected by Mr Hale before he presented the Freedom scroll to the Honorary Colonel, Major General Shouesmith. They then enjoyed a civic reception at the Corn Exchange.

For more on this story and pictures see tomorrow's East Anglian Daily Times.