Soldiers will march through Bicester town centre with drums beating and colours flying this weekend.

The soldiers, based at St George's Barracks, in Ambrosden, were granted the liberty of the town by Bicester Town Council in April, the highest possible civic honour.

The honour means 23 Pioneer Regiment, of the Royal Logistic Corps, can march through the town with "bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying" a privilege it will exercise for the first time on Saturday. The regiment will join mayor Ajit Bhart and other dignitaries at a service in St Edburg's Church at 11am. At noon, the regiment will march along the Causeway and round the Market Square.

The parade will be led by the Royal Logistic Corps Band and the salute will be taken by Dr Bhart, with the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Hugo Brunner, and Major General Tim Cross.

The regiment served in Iraq in 2003 and, more recently, supported Royal Engineers building camps and infrastructure in Afghanistan.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Mike Bennett said: "The regiment is very conscious of the honour that has been bestowed upon it.

"Bicester has been the only UK home known to 23 Regiment since 1963.

"The officers and soldiers of the regiment enjoy the hospitality of the town and its facilities, and many serving and former pioneers have married here and live locally."