Homecoming for Yorkshire troops

The soldiers have returned from a three-month deployment

Soldiers from The Yorkshire Regiment involved in breaking a Taliban stronghold have returned from Afghanistan to a heroes' welcome.

The 125 soldiers were greeted by family and friends at Battlesbury Barracks in Warminster, Wilshire, after a three-month deployment.

The troops from Burma Company, 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, will march through Warminster on Sunday.

They served in Afghanistan as part of Operation Panther's Claw.

The operation was an offensive against insurgent strongholds in Helmand.

The soldiers will also take part in a church service on Remembrance Sunday.

Commanding officer Lt Col Tom Vallings said: "We had soldiers embedded with all the battlegroups across the whole of Helmand.

'Immense contribution'

"Straight away they were doing their duty, taking the fight to the Taliban. Their contribution to the battlegroup has been immense."

During the deployment Pte Johnathon Young was killed by a Taliban explosion while clearing an alleyway for his comrades near Sangin as Afghans voted in the elections on 20 August.

Speaking about Pte Young, Lt Col Vallings said: "There is no great love hath a man than to lay down his life for his friends.

"Pte Young was a terrific guy to have done that for his colleagues in 3 Yorks."

The regiment was initially trained to be deployed in Iraq but instead replaced battle casualties in Afghanistan.