Troops arrive home from fighting

Corporal Wara with his sons after his return from Afghanistan

About 150 troops have arrived back in the UK after a tour of duty in southern Afghanistan.

Soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade have arrived back in Colchester, Essex, following six months in the Helmand Province trouble spot.

The level of fighting experienced by the unit had been the most intense since the Korean War, some experts say.

Army commanders added that the troops will undergo a normalisation programme on their return to Essex.

Wives or partners of seven soldiers are believed to have given birth recently.

Army officials confirmed a number of babies had been born in the past six months but would not say how many.

The soldiers stopped off in Cyprus to "unwind" before continuing their journey to the UK.

An Army spokesman said: "In view of the intensity of operations conducted in Helmand province, considerable thought has been given to the return of troops to the UK.

"Frontline units will have spent a short period en route in Cyprus, where they have been able to unwind before arriving back in the UK."

An Army spokesman said 16 Air Assault Brigade's handover to 3 Commando Brigade was a complex operation which would not be completed for some weeks.

He said a number of soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade would remain in Afghanistan until that handover was complete.