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10,000 line the streets to welcome home Royal Lancers
Thousands of people lined the streets of Northampton to welcome county soldiers home from Iraq.
About 200 soldiers from the 9th/12th Royal Lancers received a warm welcome as they marched through Northampton town centre before a civic reception at the Guildhall.
The crowds included the friends and family of county soldiers and many waved flags and banners. The troops were accompanied by two tanks and a marching band.
The Lancers - the regiment of Trooper Carl Smith, 23, of Rushden, who died in Iraq in 2006 – spent six months in southern Iraq training and mentoring Iraqi security forces.
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Read the reaction here!
The parade started at midday from the market Square and Lord Lieutenant Lady Juliet Townsend and the Mayor of Northampton Brian Markham took the salute outside All Saints Church at 12.15pm.
The Royal Lancers is made up of soldiers from Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire.
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Last week, a homecoming parade in Luton sparked a fierce national debate when a small group of Muslim protesters heckled and held up banners describing British soldiers as "butchers of Basra" and "cowards".
The Lancers, who recruit heavily from the East Midlands, marched through Northampton's Market Square into Abington Street to an enthusiastic welcome.
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Up to 200 soldiers took part in the parade, marking an end to their successful six-month tour of Iraq.
Valerie Hillery, aged 60, of Moulton, Northampton said: "I think it went brilliantly. It was a good turnout and I think it was organised really well. It brings it home to you when you see them that some of them are only young boys. We are so porud of them."
Roy King, aged 78 from Nether Heyford said: "It was fantastic. It brought tears to my eyes. You don't see things like this very often in Northampton. It was nice to be able to say "well done you make us proud" as we are proud of all of them."
Commanding officer Lt Col Tim Robinson said: "The regiment was moved by the level of support shown.
"After a challenging deployment there is nothing better for a soldier to come to his home town and feel that his work was appreciated."
A civic reception at the Guildhall will follow the parade.
If you have pictures from the parade send them here!
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Weather for Kettering
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
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