Shrewsbury welcomes the Royal Irish Regiment

Thousands of people lined the streets of Shrewsbury town centre today to welcome home Shropshire-based soldiers returning from a seven-month tour of Afghanistan.

Close to 2,000 people cheered soldiers and officers from 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, based in Tern Hill, as they marched through the town.

A sea of Union flags fluttered along the pavements as onlookers clapped in anticipation for the marching parade which left the town castle and travelled up Castle Street at 10am.

Bagpipes led the march as the troops turned on to St Mary's Street, before marching down Dogpole on to Wyle Cop and over the English Bridge to Abbey Foregate.

It was followed by a service at Shrewsbury Abbey at 11am and a civic reception at Shropshire Council's Shirehall.

Town crier Martin Wood helped to rally the cheering crowds who lined the pavements, five people deep, at the top of Castle Street and St Mary's Street.

He said attending the parade was one of the highlights of this year's calendar of duties.

He said: "It's wonderful to be welcoming the lads back home. The support shown by the public is superb and it's very encouraging to see so many children here."

Today's parade followed a similar event held in Market Drayton yesterday where more than 1,000 people turned out to welcome the troops back as they marched through the town centre before a service at St Mary's Church.

The regiment's tour of Afghanistan saw the loss of three soldiers.