Mayor Cllr Robert Smith is urging residents of all ages to come and line the streets of Pontypridd to show their support for the heroic members of the Royal Welsh.

The service men and women have recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and will parading through the streets of the county town on March 27 to commemorate the fact they have been granted the Freedom of the Borough.

It is hoped as many people as possible will line the streets to see the parade and show their support for the incredible men and women who serve our country.

William Wales, also known as Taffy, the four-legged mascot of the Royal Welsh was in Pontypridd this month to officially launch the event.

The Royal Welsh was formed by an amalgamation of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the South Wales Borders in 2006.

At the end of last year, service men and women from the 1st Battalion of the Royal Welsh set off for Camp Bastion in Afghanistan from their headquarters in Chester to carry out a number of roles, including mentoring the Afghan National Army and the country’s police force.

Mayor Cllr Robert Smith said: “I am extremely pleased and proud that we are able to host these heroic men and women as they parade through our county town to mark and commemorate the occasion of the granting of the Freedom of the Borough.

“They put their lives on the line for this country through their work and I hope people will come out in force to show their support for them as they complete the parade.

“One of my chosen charities this year is Help for Heroes and this is an issue close to my heart. I am fiercely proud of the work carried out on our behalf by the Armed Forces and I welcome anyone who wishes to attend on March 27 to come and join me and fly the flag for these extraordinary people.”