Town gave warm welcome to soldiers

More than 120 soldiers from across the North West paraded through Whitehaven to mark their return from Afghanistan.

Men and women from the 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment were given a warm welcome by people lining the streets and waving flags.

The regiment is returning to the three places where it historically received Freedom of the Town - for Whitehaven that was in 1964.

After a thanksgiving service at the Civic Hall, which was piped outside to the crowds, the troops marched through the town to rapturous applause.