Hundreds of relatives and friends have welcomed home returning soldiers after months of conflict in war-torn Afghanistan.

More than 130 soldiers from C-Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, returned to Lucknow Barracks, Tidworth, in Wiltshire, after their deployment to Afghanistan as part of 19 Light Brigade.

Arriving at yesterday evening, the men marched through the sunkissed parade ground behind a Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle to rapturous applause from onlooking loved ones.

A large "welcome home" banner was hung, the crowd waved Welsh flags and children's shouts of "daddy" could be heard over the cheering and whistling.

The parade soon dispersed and tearful mums, dads, wives and children rushed forward to give the returning men hugs and kisses.

Captain Doug Douglas, 29, was welcomed home by his mother Carolyn Bourchier, sister Tilly Bourchier, brother James Douglas and sister-in-law Debbie Douglas.

"It's great to be back," he said. "It's been a long time in the waiting, it was a pretty hard tour.

"It's fantastic to see so many people. You never expect so many, the support shown means a lot to the men."

During the deployment, the company took part in Operation Panther's Claw - one of the bloodiest missions since the conflict began.

And early on in the deployment, the men lost Lance Corporal Christopher Harkett, who was killed in a blast in Musa Qala District Centre, Northern Helmand, on March 14.

Capt Douglas, from nearby Salisbury, Wiltshire, said: "Losing L/Cpl Harkett was difficult. You try to prepare yourself for something like that to happen, but you don't know how you will act until it does. As a regiment we pulled together and became more focused."

Corporal Dean Cunvin, 34, was back from his eighth operational tour, having previously served in Iraq, Bosnia and Northern Ireland among others.

But the experienced soldier, from Aberdare, who was welcomed by his wife Abigail and three children - Jake, 11, Lowri, seven and Oliver, two - said this most recent tour was "most definitely the most physically demanding" he had ever completed.

"It was just 100 miles an hour all the time," he said. "The heat, the weather, it was the most difficult tour I've done.

"But we got through it, we cleared 160 compounds, we cleared a route through, and we achieved everything we set out to achieve."

Cpl Cunvin said L/Cpl Harkett was a "very close friend" and "a legend".

"He was a real character, great fun to be around. We lost him so early in tour, it was a real shock."

Officer commanding C-Company, Major Nigel Crewe-Reed, said the tour was both "challenging" and "rewarding".

"The tour was not without sacrifice, we're returning without L/Cpl Harkett, and our thoughts are with him and his family," he said.

"It's been difficult for the families while we've been away, with the coverage this tour has received. It's raised awareness of what we've been doing, which is great, but it doesn't help them sleep well at night."

Mjr Crewe-Reed, who lives in nearby Chittern, was met by his wife Caroline, and his children Isabel, four, and Toby, two.

He said the company's tour had been "unreservedly" successful.

He said: "Yes, it's been bloody and, yes we've sustained casualties and fatalities, that's the job we do. But we've done our job well, and we're a very cohesive team."

Friends Heather Thomas, 37, Sarah Williams, 33, who both live in Tidworth, and Sophie Pyle, 22, who lives in Andover, all came to greet their partners.

Mrs Thomas, whose husband Cpl Gary Thomas, 38, originally from Haverfordwest, in Pembrokeshire, has served three tours, including two in Iraq, said she "didn't sleep last night" she was so excited.

"We worry so much when they're out there, just waiting for that phone call.

"I didn't sleep a wink last night, I've been getting everything ready for him, getting all his favourite food and beer."

Mrs Thomas, who has five children - two boys aged 17 and 13, and three girls aged 15, 11 and seven - said it was hard for her family.

"I've had a massive smile on my face knowing he's coming back, I can't wait."

Mrs Williams met her husband Cpl James Williams, 23, originally from Aberdare, out on the parade ground.

Mrs Williams, who has three children - two girls aged 10 and nine, and a son aged one - said she was unaware her husband had been fighting in Operation Panther's Claw.

She said: "If I had known, I would have been a wreck. It's the nights that are difficult, when the children are in bed and you're left on your own."

Miss Pyle, came to see her boyfriend Lance Corporal Daniel Weaver, 27, originally from Haverfordwest.

She said: "I'm absolutely excited. You just have to get on with life while they're away, but part of you wonders if they'll come back."