Crowds welcome returning soldiers

Crowds have turned out in Liverpool city centre for the homecoming parade of 100 soldiers returning from Afghanistan.

Members of the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, marched through the city's streets to St George's Hall earlier.

The Rifles are based in barracks in Northern Ireland but have close links with Liverpool, with many soldiers recruited from Merseyside.

The troops were led by the Band and Bugles of the Rifles.

The parade marched past crowds of spectators at 140 paces a minute, a rapid marching pace which is a characteristic of the regiment.

Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Mike Storey, said: "I'm honoured to be able to host the Brigade 2 Rifles at the town hall and be able to watch them marching through the city."