Soldiers have been given the Freedom of the Borough in recognition of their extraordinary efforts.

Troops from the Royal Anglian Regiment, who have served in Afghanistan, received their awards at a ceremony in the Basildon town centre last night.

The soldiers are the first people to receive the accolade, as the district only became a borough last year.

Mo Larkin, mayor of Basildon, said: “These brave men and women have local connections with the borough, so nothing brings me greater pleasure than to thank them in this way.

“I am sure the people of Basildon would agree that they deserve to be the first recipients of Freedom of the Borough.”

The award gives the regiment freedom to march through the streets of the borough with “bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying”.