Brave West Midland and Staffordshire part- time soldiers were bringing London to a standstill today as they became the first Territorial Army unit to march past Buckingham Palace.

The unprecedented honour was being given to the Wolverhampton-based 4th Battalion of the Mercian Regiment in recognition of their bravery during their recent six month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Members of Normandy Company were on the front line in trouble-torn Helmand Province during the bloodiest summer of the eight-year conflict that has claimed the lives of 235 UK troops.

Special permission was given for 85 members of Normandy Company to march down The Mall, past Buckingham Palace to Clarence House where they were this afternoon being presented with campaign medals by Prince Charles, the Colonel-in-Chief.

The 100-strong Company, that included troops from throughout the Black Country, Staffordshire and Kidderminster, returned home on October 3. Only one of them was wounded during the six month tour.

Also on parade today was the Mercian Regiment mascot, a ram called Private Derby 29.