Oxford city centre came to an abrupt Halt!' as officers and men from The First Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets (1RGJ), performed their last Freedom of Entry to the City.

Marching at their customary 'double' time, 144 paces to the minute, the Band and Bugles of the Light Division led the sea of Green Jackets, as they paraded yesterday past the Town Hall in St Aldate's and on to Cornmarket and St Giles.

About 200 specially-invited guests and regiment old boys were joined by curious shoppers and tourists in witnessing the spectacle, which coincided with the Green Jackets' 40th anniversary, and also marked the final opportunity for the battalion to perform the Freedom ceremony, before they amalgamate with three other regiments, in February 2007, to form a new and larger regiment called The Rifles.

The Royal Green Jackets' links with Oxford go back more than 200 years. The Green Jackets were formed in 1966 when the The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry merged with the King's Royal Rifle Brigade.

The "Ox & Bucks" had been granted the Freedom of the City 30 years before, on April 10, 1948. But the last time the Green Jackets exercised their freedom of the city was in 1995 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of VE Day.

When it becomes part of The Rifles, the regiment will maintain a Territorial Army and cadet presence in Oxford and will continue to recruit riflemen from across the county.

Yesterday's celebrations began at 2pm with a special service of Thanksgiving at Christ Church Cathedral. The ancient building echoed to music from The Band and Bugles of The Light Division, who performed pieces including Song Without Words (Suite in F) by Gustav Holst, and Nativity, from Dove Ascending.

An address was also read by the Reverend Colin Fox, honorary chaplain of Green Jackets, who spoke of the honour and pride the Green Jackets felt to be in Oxford.

Following the service, which ended with the National Anthem, the troops formed up before the Inspecting Officer,The Lord Mayor of Oxford, on Broadwalk, in front of Christ Church College.

Lieutenant Colonel Justin Maciejewski, Commanding Officer 1RGJ, told the crowds: "We have a long and happy association with Oxford. We are immensely grateful and proud to be exercising our freedom of this great city at this important time celebrating 40 years of distinguished service and looking forward to our future as part of The Rifles."

Lord Mayor, Jim Campbell, expressed the city's affection and gratitude for the Green Jackets and his wish that the relationship would continue long after the regiment becomes part of The Rifles.

Amongst the crowd which assembled to watch the inspection were former Ox & Bucks soldiers, Roger Ayres and John Collins.

Mr Ayres, 67, from Stanford in the Vale, served with the regiment from 1957-1959 and trained at Cowley Barracks.

He said: "Seeing the battalion parade brings a lump to my throat. As a former member of the Ox & Bucks, which had such a distinguished history, I still have a lot of feeling for them and would not have missed this for the world.

"Even now, I remember that no matter how tired you were from marching double time, the sound of those bugles could still lift you."

Mr Collins, 68, from Wantage, added: "It's sad that this will be the last time the regiment parade as The Green Jackets, but we must change with the times and we still feel very proud to have been part of their history.

"I served with the Ox & Bucks between 1956 and 1957 and went to Suez before being stationed in Cyprus. Listening to those bugles today is really something."

After marching from Christ Church, the battalion performed a salute to the Lord Mayor and assembled dignitaries, who stood atop a dias in front of the Town Hall.