In pictures: Special Shrewsbury welcome for wounded veterans

The veterans – four British and two American soldiers – have now reached mile 526 in their quest to raise money and awareness for the Walking with the Wounded charity.

Monday's stretch of the journey saw the soldiers walk from Ellesmere to Shrewsbury, and town crier Martin Wood escorted them from the Welsh Bridge to the town's square where he announced their arrival.

Shrewsbury's mayor Councillor Miles Kenny was also present to greet the trekkers. He said: "The effort they are making is enormous. It is an great inspiration to anyone."

Matt Fisher, 31, from Chertsey in Surrey, is one of the six soldiers taking part in the walk. His left leg was amputated 12 months after he was shot in the foot while patrolling in Afghanistan on Boxing Day, 2009.

Mr Fisher, who served with the Three Rifles, said the walkers had received a fantastic reception during their journey through Shropshire.

He said: "It has been great, particularly as we got near to Shrewsbury. We have had a lot of well-wishers and people donating, beeping their horns and waving to us.

"We have also been joined by four service members from RAF Shawbury, which has been great."

With 526 miles completed, Mr Fisher said he was focussed on completing the marathon challenge.

He said: "I am very sore but very willing to carry on and looking forward to getting to the end."

Mr Fisher said he hoped the event, which will see them joined by Walking with the Wounded's patron Prince Harry and American football legend Dan Marino, would be able to provide help for wounded soldiers to find a new career in civilian life.

He said: "We just want to raise awareness and funds. All the funds are used for programmes that are working with the wounded."

The father-of-two said that the walk was also providing the team with the chance to show there is life after their wounds.

He said: "For us it is all about showing you can still carry on after injury."

Mr Fisher also had praise for his American colleagues Kirstie Ennis and Andrew Bement – both US marines injured in the line of duty – who are taking part in the walk.

He said: "They are great and we are lucky to have them with us. They fit in and we got to meet their families who were over last week.

"They are a cracking pair of guys and we are all good friends now. The six of us have spent the best part of six weeks on the road so we get on with each other very well."

Miss Ennis, who suffered a catalogue of horrendous injuries in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2012, said the walk is giving her a way to support her military colleagues.

She said: "If I cannot serve in the military in the capacity I wanted to then I still want to take care of my military brothers and sisters."

Miss Ennis also revealed that she expects to have her left leg amputated below the knee when she returns to America after completing the walk.

She said her doctors had told her she was "crazy" to consider doing the walk but she said she did not want to miss the opportunity to support other wounded soldiers.

She also praised the support the walkers have received saying: "It has been amazing, the people and the support has been remarkable."

One of those joining the walkers was Major Dan McBride, from RAF Shawbury, who was himself seriously injured in a mid air collision in 1992.

Major McBride is the co-ordinator for Walking with the Wounded in Shropshire and handed over a cheque for £5,391 at the beginning of the day.