SOLDIERS who have returned from Afghanistan will be given the Freedom of South Ayrshire at a homecoming cere-mony today.

The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS) will parade through Ayr town centre and accept the Freedom of South Ayrshire, on behalf of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Robin Lindsay said: "2 SCOTS are delighted to be home from a hard tour and to be reunited with our loved ones.

"However, our thoughts have been and will continue to be with the families of the three soldiers who were killed on operations.

"We have been over-whelmed by the excep-tional support received from local communities over the past six months.

"It is an honour to accept the Freedom of South Ayrshire on behalf of the Royal Regiment of Scotland."

The battalion's 400 soldiers deployed to Helmand Province in April.

Corporal William Savage, Fusilier Samuel Flint and Private Robert Hetherington died when their patrol, travelling between bases in Lashkar Gah, was targeted with an improvised explosive device on April 30. Corporal Savage was from Irvine, North Ayrshire.

South Ayrshire Provost Helen Moonie said: "The Honorary Freedom of Ayr is given to very few people and that is what makes it such a special thing.

"It is an appropriate way to show our apprec-iation for everything these men and women do for us and others around the world."

The parade starts in Pavilion Road at noon.

stef.lach@eveningtimes.co.uk