Royal Marine Reservists marching on Fairfield Street, Wandsworth. Image: Simon Jarvis

Families watched with joy as volunteers from the Royal Marine Reservists paraded through Wandsworth town centre on Saturday celebrating their Freedom of the Borough award.

Freedom of the Borough is an award given only in exceptional circumstances and one where an individual or organisation has demonstrated outstanding achievements.

The unit’s commanding officer Lt Col Ed Moorhouse said:

It is a great privilege that has been bestowed upon the Royal Marines Reserve City of London by the granting and exercising of the Freedom of the Borough of Wandsworth.

Since arriving in the borough in 2011, we have had unfaltering support from the borough council and its local residents.

We are hugely proud of being part of Wandsworth.

In Pictures: Royal Marine Reservists receive Freedom of the Borough of Wandsworth https://t.co/H4cKnmEiap pic.twitter.com/UglRqUOAIl

— Wandsworth Council (@wandbc) January 30, 2017

The Royal Marines were originally formed in 1664 during the reign of King Charles II and have just celebrated their 352nd anniversary.

Volunteers were first recruited to the to The City of London reserve unit in November 1948 and in June 2011 its headquarters moved to Southfields, Wandsworth.