Residents in Lincoln can show their support for the county's soldiers by donning a special wristband.

The Echo has been given 200 black and yellow bands from the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment – better known as the Poachers – in a bid to drum up crowds for their parade on Thursday.

People wanting to bolster support for the regiment's 250 men and women can pick up a wristband free of charge from the Echo reception from today.

All the regiment is asking in return is that people show up for the march.

Batallion officer Captain Markus Frehse said: "The wristbands are a way to get the name of the Poachers out there and hopefully get some welcoming crowds for what is the regiment's homecoming parade."

The Echo launched a campaign to get hundreds of Lincolnshire people lining the streets in support of the soldiers last month.

The goal is to match the 4,000-strong crowd which turned out for the Poachers' last parade in Norwich.

So far, scores of people have pledged their support and organisers are hopeful there will be big crowds.

The parade will take place at 12.15pm on Thursday, starting in City Square and progressing up the High Street.

Anyone who takes a wristband is asked to leave their details so they can be added to the Echo's 'Roll of Honour' which will be displayed on the thisislincolnshire.co.uk website. There is a maximum of two wristbands per person.

To register your support, e-mail cerri.delaney@lincolnshireecho.co.uk

For more on the Poachers' homecoming parade, see Monday's Echo.