Hundreds of people are expected to line the route as soldiers take part in a parade on Saturday to celebrate 100 years of the Territorial Army.

About 150 men and women from the Territorial Army, Oxford University's Officer Training Corps and Oxfordshire Army Cadet Force, will attend a special anniversary service at Christ Church Cathedral to celebrate the occasion.

After the service, the troops will parade on the Broad Walk, next to Christ Church Meadow, where they will be inspected by the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Hugo Brunner.

A reception will then be held in Oxford Town Hall for 300 invited civic, university and military dignitaries, as well as serving and past members of the Territorial Army and their families, cadets and members of the Royal British Legion.

The celebration is part of a national programme of events being held up and down the country this year to mark the organisation's 100th birthday.

In Oxford it will involve troops and cadets from the 5th (Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars) Signals Squadron, A Company of 7th Battalion The Rifles, D Detachment 202 Field Hospital, Oxford University Officer Training Corps and the Oxfordshire County Army Cadet Force.

Some of the soldiers from A Company, 7 Rifles, will be taking time off from leave, after returning to the UK three weeks ago from a six-month tour in war-torn Afghanistan.

Rifleman Carl Alford, of Northway, Oxford, said he was looking forward to taking part in the parade after returning from Afghanistan last month.

The 23-year-old, who also served in Iraq in 2005 and plans to go back to work at Lucy Switchgear in Thame, said: "I can't wait. It is an important occassion."

He added: "Joining the Territorial Army has given me something to do. I have seen a lot of things and done a lot of things that I would never have done anywhere else."

His mum Judith, also of Northway, said she and at least three other family members would be watching the parade.

She said: "I am really proud. It is fantastic what the Territorial Army do. I am really looking forward to it.

"But I am a little bit disappointed that they are not marching through the town itself, and only through the college grounds."

Music will be provided by the Waterloo Band of the Rifles and the parade commander will be Lieutenant Colonel Nick Channer, of the Oxford University Officer Training Corps.