The commanding officer of 1 Rifles Regiment said he was delighted by Chepstow Town Council's decision to give his regiment the freedom of the town.

The town council voted to the give the Rifles, the 1 Regiment which is based at Beachley Barracks, the freedom of Chepstow at a meeting last week.

Lieutenant Colonel James de la Billiere said: "It is a great honour to be granted the freedom of Chepstow and I speak for all Riflemen when I say how pleasing and touching it is that we should receive such an honour so close to 1 Rifles' deployment to Afghanistan."

1 Rifles is due to begin its third tour of Afghanistan in the spring.