THE freedom of Wimborne has been granted to an Army regiment in honour of its sacrifices in Afghanistan.

The town stood still as the Mayor, Cllr John Burden, used the annual civic thanksgiving service in Wimborne Minster to pay respects to The Rifles.

After the ceremony, led by the Rev Canon John Holbrook, Cllr Burden and Brigadier Jolyon Jackson, Colonel for the South West, exchanged gifts by the War Memorial.

Cllr Burden said: “This is the first time Wimborne has been given over to an Army regiment of any kind.

“Phil Allen’s funeral pushed me to do it, and we made an exception for them.

“It was a very emotional day.”

Wimborne’s present was a framed “greetings” notice for the Rifles to hang up in their mess, a variation on the traditional scroll. In return, Brigadier Jackson gave a silver bugle, to be displayed in the council chamber.

The Dorset riflemen killed in Afghanistan are Phil Allen, 20, of Verwood, Mark Hale, 42, of Winton in Bournemouth, and Jonny Allott, 19, of Ferndown.

Rifleman Allen’s mother, Karen Charman-Allen, of Verwood, and his fiancée Karina were left moved by the service.

Mrs Charman-Allen said: “I was just so proud of all the Rifles.

“They truly deserved this great honour bestowed upon them.

“It was really great that they linked the freedom with the thanksgiving service.

“It was wonderful, but very emotional. It was the first time I’d been in the Minster since Phil’s funeral.

“Phil’s fiancée Karina and I both shed a tear.”

Standards from the Royal British Legion, St John Ambulance, Scouts, Guides and Brownies were all present, along with the many veterans living in Wimborne of the county’s regiments that served as forerunners to the Rifles – the Devon and Dorsets, and the Dorsets.