THOUSANDS of people lined the streets in a North Yorkshire town to give soldiers returning from Afghanistan a hero’s welcome.

Children, shoppers, pensioners and office workers waved flags and banners as 120 troops from 10 Field Squadron Royal Engineers paraded through Northallerton High Street yesterday.

Soldiers struggled to contain broad smiles as an estimated 2,000 people clapped and cheered.

Many shops were decorated with flags, balloons and banners. Some workers hung out of upstairs windows to watch the event unfold. Many of the towns primary schools brought their pupils to see the parade.

The squadron, based at nearby RAF Leeming, is back from a six-month tour of Afghanistan where it has been helping to build bridges to make life easier for the locals.

They were accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Craythorne, and the mayor of Northallerton, Tony Hall.