Cheers as city freedom given to battalion

THOUSANDS of people lined the Royal Mile to watch the first-ever English battalion of soldiers being honoured with the freedom of Edinburgh.

Members of the 3rd Battalion The Rifles marched past the cheering crowds on Saturday during their homecoming parade.

The soldiers recently completed a six-month tour of Afghanistan.

The battalion traditionally recruits from the north of England but has been based at the city’s Redford Barracks since 2003.