SOLDIERS subjected to jeering and abuse at a homecoming parade earlier this week have been given free tickets to Amir Khan’s fight tonight.

The Bolton-born boxer and promoter Frank Warren have given 50 ringside seats to the Royal Anglian Regiment who were branded as 'criminals, murderers and terrorists' by Muslim extremists.

Tonight they will be honoured as heroes with VIP treatment at the sporting event at the MEN Arena tonight.

Khan, who is taking on Mexican veteran Marco Antonio Barrera, has made no comment publicly about his feelings over the way the regiment was treated.

But a spokesman said: "The Royal Anglians were absolutely delighted at the tickets gesture. They love watching Amir fight, and it will be a great sporting night."

Promoter Frank Warren said: "All our boxers are giving tickets to the men who went out there to do a perilous job defending our country.

"Ours is the land of free speech, but we all have a right to that. I am a UK citizen and what I say is that the members of our armed forces should be shown respect.

"They do not decide who we go to war against. That's the job of the politicians. But they risk their lives for all of us in this country."

The extremists who taunted and ridiculed the soldiers, during a homecoming parade in Luton on Tuesday, sparked outrage with their actions, and had to be protected by riot police.

Defence Secretary John Hutton publicly condemned the 'tiny minority' involved, and paid a personal tribute to the 2nd Battalion, who he said had served their country with great bravery and professionalism.