WITH drums beating and bayonets fixed, men and women from RAF Lyneham proudly exercised their right to march through the streets of Swindon.

As they did so, a single Hercules aircraft from the transport base flew low overhead.

Despite the station's ongoing commitment to the fight against world terrorism in Afghanistan, 80 personnel of all ranks were on parade in their best blues.

Security was tight with extra police on duty, and officers from the army's bomb squad checked out the area before the parade got underway.

The official salute at the march-past was taken in Commercial Road by the new Station Commander, Group Captain Ray Lock, who was joined on the dais by Swindon Mayor Stan Pajak.

The ceremony, which was watched by a smaller crowd than usual, marked the 38th anniversary of the granting of the Freedom of the Borough to the RAF station back in May 1964.

The Charter gives RAF Lyneham the right to march through the streets of the town with bands playing, drums beating, bayonets fixed and colours flying.

Mr Pajak said: "It is an honour we gave to them and it is good to see them exercising their right, and long may they continue to do so.

"I believe it is a very important occasion and recently there has been a lot more feeling towards our armed forces by civilians.

"There is a big appreciation for the splendid job they do, and there has always been a particularly strong connection between the town and RAF Lyneham and of course, up until recently, RAF Wroughton.

"The appreciation the town has for them is not just for their efforts in war situations but for their peacetime work as well, carrying out such things as aid missions."

The parade, made up of two flights of airmen and women, was inspected outside the civic offices by Group Captain Lock and the Mayor.

They then marched to Commerical Road with all four of Lyneham's Squadron Standards under the direction of parade commander Squadron Leader Tony Bull.

It was while they were passing the saluting dais that the Hercules made its split-second timed low fly-past.

Flt Lt Tom Draper, the parade adjutant, said: "Being granted the Freedom of the Borough is a great honour for us and we take the opportunity every two years to exercise it with a parade like this.

"It is an important link between RAF Lyneham and the local community because they gave us the honour as a form of thanks for all the work the station does."

Earlier this month members of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, who are based in Swindon, paraded around the town just days after they too were awarded the Freedom of the Borough.

Granting Honorary Freedom dates back to the times of the Roman empire when a regiment wishing to recruit more soldiers had to gain permission from the local town or borough to enter its streets.