Market Drayton welcomes back the Royal Irish Regiment

Crowds of people today turned out in force in Market Drayton to welcome back Shropshire-based soldiers from their seven-month tour of Afghanistan.

Soldiers and officers from the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, based at Tern Hill, marched through the town supported by more than 1,000 flag-waving onlookers.

The parade, which started and ended in Church Street, wound its way down St Mary's Street, Shropshire Street, Frogmore Road, Cheshire Street and High Street.

It was being followed by a service at St Mary's Church and a civic reception at The Royal British Legion in Church Street.

The tour saw the loss of three soldiers. Ranger Aaron McCormick and Lance Corporal Stephen McKee were killed in action and Ranger David Dalzell died in an operational accident. More than 400 troops have been returning to the county in the last week, with the last few returning on Friday.

Owen Paterson, North Shropshire MP and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, was attending the parade in Market Drayton today and another in Shrewsbury tomorrow.

He said: "I think it's tremendous that Market Drayton is turning out en-masse to celebrate the soldiers' return.

"It's very sad that three personnel have not returned and I went to their funerals in Northern Ireland.

"The Royal Irish Regiment have done a great job and we are safer every time we get on a plane because of their extraordinary bravery and professionalism."