Honington Parade

Hundreds of people are expected to line the streets of Bury St Edmunds today to officially welcome home some of Suffolk's RAF servicemen and women.

27 Squadron arrived back in the UK on Tuesday night after a 6 month deployment in Afghanistan.  Some personnel were left badly wounded from the tour as a result of improvised explosive devices, it's believed some of those will also be taking part in today's parade.

A full marching band will accompany the parade, which starts at 11am on Angel Hill.

The regiment was deployed to Afghanistan less than a year after their return from Iraq.  Today's event will also be a chance to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund and Help for Heroes.

The Mayor of St Edmundsbury, Councillor Patricia Warby said: "We are delighted to be able to honour the service these men are giving their country.  They have been working in very trying conditions which they will only have left four days before.  We want to give them the warmest possible welcome home and I hope everyone will come along to show our appreciation of the job they are doing."