The odds are that right at this very moment members of the 1st Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment are on duty in some distant part helping to keep the peace and provide a safe and secure environment for those who live in that country.

They are certainly in the Balkans and a number have just left Sierra Leone.

The people who they are protecting look on them as true heroes and hold them - along with all other British servicemen and women - in the highest regard.

They are delighted to have them in their midst.

That was obviously not the case for a number of people when the Regiment proudly paraded through Keighley last week.

Last Friday's Freedom Parade was a tremendous opportunity for the people of this town to say thank-you and happy birthday to the Dukes. Thankfully hundreds did.

The last thing the Regiment needed was being verbally sniped at on their home ground as they proudly marched with bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying.

In fairness it wasn't totally the army under fire. The heaviest flak was directed at the police and Bradford Council for allowing the march to be held on a busy day like Friday. Yes, it was inconvenient for the roads to be closed compounding problems created by the current closure of Oakworth Road. It was obviously going to frustrate a number of people no matter how much early warning had been given. But security was paramount.

The moan that the new town council members were not formally invited is not really worthy of any comment save to say it beggars all belief.

Feedback reports show there has not been one murmur of discontent from any of the other towns and cities they have marched through. 'Welcome home' was the clear and unanimous message.

But from the calls and letters to this newspaper that cannot be said of the event in Keighley. In realistic terms the complainers are well outnumbered, but it still leaves the feeling that Keighley has shot itself in the foot again.