HUNDREDS of people lined the streets to watch the former Staffordshire Regiment march through Newcastle for the first time in 16 years.

A total of 130 soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, paraded through the town centre yesterday as part of a whistle-stop tour of the region before the regiment moves to Fallingbostel, north Germany, for 10 years from July.

The move from the current base in Tidworth, near Salisbury, in Wiltshire, will affect 700 people, including 34 officers and 120 family members.

Soldiers from the regiment, led by the Band of the Prince of Wales's Division, marched with bayonets fixed and colours flying from Barracks Road, along the Ironmarket and High Street to the Civic Offices in Merrial Street, where they were saluted by the mayor John Cooper and Staffordshire Deputy Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Walton. They were also accompanied by the regiment's mascot, a ram named Private Derby.

Onlookers cheered as the soldiers marched past, with many proudly picking out friends and loved ones currently serving with the regiment.

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The soldiers taking part in the march said the sight of so many people turning out to support them had given them a real boost ahead of their move to Germany.

Giovanni Capod, aged 20, who lives in Clayton, said he was surprised by the turnout.

The former Saint John Fisher Catholic High School pupil said: "I wasn't expecting there to be so many people on the streets to be honest.

"We marched through Tamworth last week and there were nowhere near as many people as have come out in Newcastle.

"Some of my family came to watch me which was good.

"It gives the lads a good boost marching through your hometown."

Private Lee Hartshorne, aged 23, who lives in Knutton, will be moving to Fallingbostel with his soon-to-be wife, Hayley.

He said: "At the moment I only get to see Hayley at weekends but I will get to go home to her every night when we move to Germany.

"We're getting married in Hanley in June just before we move and we're both looking forward to experiencing a new way of life.

"Moving to Germany is going to be a big change for the lads in the regiment but everyone is looking forward to it."

But Adam Whitehurst, aged 21, who lives in Burslem, has decided to leave the regiment.

He said: "Ever since I was at school running round the playground with sticks as pretend guns, I've wanted to be in the Army.

"I've been in for five years now and feel as if I've done my time so I'm coming out of the Army later in the year. I'm not sure what I'm doing to do yet.

"I can always rejoin the Army if I find I'm missing it."

The regiment has so far completed two of its 10 planned town centres marches before its move to Germany.

On Saturday, soldiers will parade through Hanley and then at the Britannia Stadium before Stoke City's match against Portsmouth.

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Spiby, commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, said the parades were a way of giving the public the chance to say goodbye to the regiment and for the soldiers to thank the public for their support.

He said: "The people of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle are very patriotic and that was shown by the sheer number of people who turned out for the parade in Newcastle. Although the regiment will be moving to Germany, we are still very keen to maintain our strong links with the people of Staffordshire and with the county.

"Around 90 per cent of the regiment comes from Staffordshire and the West Midlands and that is something we are very proud of.

"Our recruitment offices will remain in the county so we don't envisage there being any problems."

A regimental information team was set up stall by Newcastle's Guildhall before the march where soldiers chatted to residents about Army life and showed them weapons and military equipment, including a warrior tank.

Newcastle Mayor John Cooper said: "It's a very proud day not only for myself as mayor but for the people of Newcastle to see these soldiers marching through the town.

"These young lads do a great job and what they do deserves to be recognised.

"We wish them well in Germany and look forward to welcoming them back to the town in the near future."

The 3rd Battalion will be joining the 7th Armoured Brigade the Desert Rats in Germany in an armoured infantry role.