Soldiers from 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment have been celebrating their return from Afghanistan.

Their visit to Stafford yesterday was the second of seven parades which are taking place across the region and the residents made sure the 400 soldiers felt welcome.

Click on the image on the right to see more pictures.

One of the soldiers honoured was Private Daniel Aston, 19, from Cannock, who was based in Khar Nikah.

The former Cannock Chase High pupil said he had enjoyed the parade and it was nice to be back home among his friends and family.

He said: “I’ve seen some people I know and I have spoken to some people from a charity which sent boxes out to me – I’ve enjoyed it.”

Private Aston is likely to be going back in two years time, but right now his proud mum Juliet Millward, from Cannock, is glad to have her son home

She said: “I heard from him about once a week, depending on where he was and the internet access, but they always say no news is good news. You do worry, but you can’t help it. I’m very proud of him and he’s my only child.”

Like many of the other soldiers, Private Aston will soon be heading back to his German base in Fallingbostel, but he is glad to be home in the run up to Christmas.

At the forefront of all the soldiers’ minds would have been Private Gareth Bellingham, aged 22, from Stoke-on-Trent.

He was the sole fatality suffered by the Battalion during the tour, when he was killed in action on June 18 in Helmand Province.