Mercians in parade through city

The regiment returned from Afghanistan in October

Soldiers have marched through the centre of Worceter after completing a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, the Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) marched from the cathedral after a thanksgiving service.

The regiment lost nine men in Helmand province after being deployed to fight the Taleban earlier this year.

The soldiers marched to the Cornmarket with their colours flying prior to a civic reception.

The troops returned from Afghanistan in October, when they held a special service to remember their colleagues killed in action.

The regiment went to Afghanistan as the 1st Battalion, the Worcester and Sherwood Foresters, but as part of force changes was merged with the Cheshire and Staffordshire units.

The new regiment's headquarters are at Whittington Barracks, Staffordshire.

A total of 85 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan since the start of operations in 2001 with 59 killed in combat.