An annual event which celebrates a town's special link with the Royal Air Force will bid a fond farewell to a veteran plane.

Eastern Daily Press: The troops at RAF Marham exercise their Freedom of the Borough at West Norfolk. Picture: Matthew Usher.The troops at RAF Marham exercise their Freedom of the Borough at West Norfolk. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2016)

Personnel from RAF Marham will exercise their Freedom of the Borough at a parade through King's Lynn on Thursday, May 3.

This will include a flypast of a Tornado fighter jet at 12pm, which will be the last time it will be seen at the event before they are retired next year.

The aircraft has been strongly associated with RAF Marham for more than 35 years.

Eastern Daily Press: The troops at RAF Marham exercise their Freedom of the Borough at West Norfolk. Picture: Matthew Usher.The troops at RAF Marham exercise their Freedom of the Borough at West Norfolk. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2016)

RAF Marham Station Commander, Group Captain Ian Townsend, said: 'I am very much looking forward to exercising RAF Marham's Freedom of King's Lynn at the parade on 3 May.

'We are exceptionally well supported by our local community and it is a great honour to be able to celebrate our Freedom of the Borough during the RAF's centenary year.'

The parade has extra significance this year as it takes place in the RAF's centenary year, as one of a season of events taking place around the country under the banner of RAF100.

Eastern Daily Press: The troops at RAF Marham exercise their Freedom of the Borough at West Norfolk. Picture: Matthew Usher.The troops at RAF Marham exercise their Freedom of the Borough at West Norfolk. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2016)

The station was first granted the Freedom of the Borough in 1981, and since then the parade has become a popular event giving residents the oppurtunity to show their support to the station and its personnel.

The civic procession, led by the mayor's staffbearer, swordbearer and macebearers, and including West Norfolk mayor Carol Bower and her consort Simon Bower, RAF Marham's Station Commander, the Deputy Lieutenant, the High Sheriff, and scroll-bearers, will proceed from the town hall along High Street and arrive at Tuesday Market Place just before 12pm.

The Band of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell will march on to Tuesday Market Place with the RAF Marham personnel, carrying the standard of IX squadron, at 11.40am. A variety of stands from RAF Marham will be set up from 10.30am.

Eastern Daily Press: The troops at RAF Marham exercise their Freedom of the Borough at West Norfolk. Picture: Matthew Usher.The troops at RAF Marham exercise their Freedom of the Borough at West Norfolk. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2016)

For security reasons, there will be some intermittent road closures in Tuesday Market Place and the junctions surrounding it, along with Page Stair Lane and Water Lane, from 8am. The road around Tuesday Market Place will be closed for one hour from around 11.30am for the parade.

Eastern Daily Press: The troops at RAF Marham exercise their Freedom of the Borough at West Norfolk. Picture: Matthew Usher.The troops at RAF Marham exercise their Freedom of the Borough at West Norfolk. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2016)