Llanelli town centre march for Royal Welsh soldiers

The £15m Ffwrnes Theatre is one of the key projects in Llanelli's regeneration

Soldiers from the Royal Welsh have been marching through Llanelli as part of celebrations to mark the official reopening of its town centre following a £60m regeneration programme.

The event also reaffirmed the 2nd Battalion's Freedom of Carmarthenshire - first granted in 2008.

Taffy the regimental goat joined the parade starting and finishing at the Selwyn Samuel Centre.

Last week hundreds of people lined the streets of Neath for a parade there.

Before the event Carmarthenshire council leader and armed forces champion Kevin Madge appealed to people to turn out in big numbers.

"I hope people will give them a warm Welsh welcome and line the streets as they march to show our support and appreciation for them," he said.

"It is especially pleasing that they are marching this weekend when we are celebrating the investment in the town centre."

New canopies now line the streets, new paving has been laid, traffic improvements have been undertaken and public art works installed.

Three major projects have already been completed at Llanelli Library, the Ffwrnes theatre and East Gate, with work at Llanelly House due to be completed later this year.

The hope is that the improvements will attract more investment and encourage more businesses to open in the town.

The regiment marched to the town hall for an inspection, before being joined by members of the Llanelli Company of the Dyfed and Glamorgan Army Cadet Force to complete the parade.