Anniversary parade through town

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The 1st Queens Dragoon Guards marched around Wrexham town centre to mark their 50th anniversary

Soldiers from 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards (The Welsh Cavalry) have marched through Wrexham as part of their 50th anniversary tour.

The regiment, which recently completed a six-month tour in Afghanistan, was inspected by the mayor of Wrexham and the Lord Lieutenant.

It recruits from Wrexham and border counties, and Mayor Arwel Gwynn Jones said the town was proud of them.

An estimated 150 people greeted the soldiers on Llwyn Isaf Green.

Many more watched as they made their way through the town.

The soldiers, accompanied by the regimental band, were inspected by the mayor on the green.

He told them Wrexham was "justly proud" of its long association with the armed forces.

The soldiers recently marched through Swansea, where the regiment was awarded the freedom of the city.

The regiment recruits from Wrexham and other border towns

Mayor Jones said Wrexham wanted to give them a warm welcome "just as good as the south Walians".

He told the regiment: "You are a great source of pride to us all."

Among those who turned up to welcome the regiment was 22-year-old Jemma Jones, from Wrexham.

Her husband, Trooper Paul Jones, 19, serves with the Queen's Dragoon Guards and has served a tour in Afghanistan.

She said: "We got married last August and he went off four days later. I've hardly seen him since we got married."

She said she was "very very proud" and would follow the regiment on their march through the town centre.

She said knowing a loved one was under constant threat of attack in Afghanistan was the "hardest and wierdest feeling," adding: "You are fine some days and other days you just think to yourself, 'Are they going to come home?'

Jemma Jones's husband was sent to Afghanistan days after they wed

"You have got to be strong for them."

Averil Baton Davies and her daughter Cheryl, both from Wrexham, were also among the crowd.

Averil Baton Davies said: "I think it's important to welcome the lads.

"My husband William is a retired sergeant major with the Royal Welch Fusiliers and I'm here taking pictures for him.

"We should show them how much we support them."

Daughter Cheryl said: "I'm here to show my respect. Not many people knew this was on today, otherwise I'm sure more would have turned out."

Jean Perkins, 76, from Wrexham, said: "I served with the WRAF and my father was killed in the war in 1942.

"All these soldiers do their bit for Britain. It's a good turnout, but I think there could have been more."

Former serviceman Alan Edwards, 72, from Wrexham, said: "I'm here to pay my respects.

"There's a real connection between the regiment and Wrexham. But I must say I don't feel it was very well publicised by the council.

"There would have been far more people here if it had been widely publicised."

Wrexham council said it had sent press releases to media and the event had been publicised in local papers and radio.