Soldiers end charity cycle ride

The infantrymen have been serving in Iraq and Afghanistan

A group of soldiers who have returned to the UK after tours in Afghanistan and Iraq have been cycling across the South East in aid of injured comrades.

The infantrymen from the 1st Battalion the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment departed from Dover on Monday, arriving back at Dover Castle on Friday.

They cycled about 90 miles a day around Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund.

"The weather has been really hot," said Regimental Sgt Maj Stuart Horder.

"We've got a battalion stationed in Cyprus and a battalion stationed in Germany, and the weather's pretty good there.

HOMECOMING PARADES Saturday 11 July - Worthing 1130 BST Monday 13 July - Portsmouth 1130 BST Tuesday 14 July - Southampton 1030 BST Wednesday 15 July - Guildford 1130 BST Thursday 16 July - Lewes 1130 BST Friday 17 July - Tunbridge Wells 1130 BST Saturday 18 July - Canterbury 0930 BST

"But the week we've had here has been really hard and demanding with the hills finishing yesterday... that was strenuous," he said.

The soldiers cycled from Dover, through Kent to Rochester, west to Aldershot in Hampshire, down to Portsmouth, and into Sussex to Crowborough, before finishing off back in Dover.

In total, Exercise County Tiger covered 370 miles.

The regiment, nicknamed The Tigers, is the infantry regiment for the South East, and recruits from the four counties, as well as London, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.

The 1st Battalion is the most decorated infantry unit in the British Army following three tours of Iraq.

The regiment is now preparing for several homecoming parades in towns around the South East this month - its first in eight years due to commitments abroad.

Lance Corporal Karl Hall explains why he and the other soldiers took part in the charity cyle ride