16 Air Assault Brigade show off weapons and vehicles in Colchester parade

16 Air Assault Brigade, the British Army's airborne rapid reaction force, has paraded through Colchester, Essex, with some troops marching in battledress and carrying weapons – including a Javelin anti-tank missile.

The parade was part of celebrations in the run-up to Armed Forces Day on Saturday and it was the first time the soldiers have exercised their freedom of Colchester since it gained city status last year.

Vehicles used on operations were also part of the parade on Thursday which was watched by crowds in the middle of the city centre.

• Armed Forces Day Cornwall: What to expect at national event that celebrates military 
• Army tests out its new 'battle-winning' Apache attack helicopter over the Highlands 
• No terrain too tough for British soldiers surviving in the Belize jungles 

For Brigadier Nick Cowley, it was his final parade as commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade as he gets ready to become Commander of the Combat Maneouvre Centre.

In the video above, he said he feels "unbelievably sad" to be moving on and paid tribute to his troops.

16 Air Assault Brigade, based in Colchester, has had a busy 2023 with troops deployed to Turkey in support of earthquake relief efforts and the evacuation of British nationals from wartorn Sudan.