Royal Anglian Regiment in Peterborough homecoming parade

Soldiers from the Royal Anglian Regiment marched through the city watched by hundreds of people

Hundreds of people lined the streets of Peterborough to welcome 250 Royal Anglian troops back from Afghanistan.

A homecoming parade took place from Church Street to the town hall with an inspection in Cathedral Square.

It marked the return to the UK of soldiers who have finished a six-month tour in Helmand province.

Commanding officer, Lt Col Mick Aston, said it gave people the chance "to cheer the troops with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed".

He added: "Over the last 10 years we have been fortunate to have received the unwavering and exceptional support of the people of our home counties in East Anglia."

'Marching practice'

Cpl Alex Guy was killed on 15 June

During the last tour, the regiment, nicknamed the Vikings, found more than 150 improvised explosive devices and detained 68 insurgents.

They also lost 37-year-old Cpl Alex Guy from St Neots, who was killed during an operation to disrupt insurgent activity in Nad Ali, Helmand Province.

Col Aston said: "His loss was deeply felt by the battalion. He was a popular, committed, loyal and long-serving Viking and also a devoted family man and husband."

In total, 16 members of the regiment have lost their lives in Afghanistan since the conflict began in 2002.

Before the parade, Peterborough's mayor, George Simons, said: "It's important that we show our thanks to the service personnel who have supported this country so magnificently.

"It will be very fitting to see the parade pass the city's new war memorial on Bridge Street, especially just a few days before Remembrance Sunday."

The Royal Anglian Regiment serves as the county regiment for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk, Rutland and Suffolk.