FAMILIES in Essex have welcomed home heroes and loved ones.

More than 200 soldiers have been supporting the efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan duringatour in Kabul since February.

The soldiers, from the 1st Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment, returned safely into the arms of their families, with the final 75 greeted with hugs and cheers at the Royal Artillery Barracks, in Woolwich. The so-called Vikings are recruited from Essex and went to Afghanistan as part of Operation Toral.

It was part of the Nato support plan to train the Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army to maintain peace in their country.

The soldiers worked as part of the Kabul Protection Unit, helping troops move across the city safely, and responded when there were incidents or attacks.

Commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Dominic Biddick, said: “Our men have performed outstandingly well again, fulfillingamission in Kabul that is very different from our previous experiences in Helmand.

“First Royal Anglian formed the core of the new Kabul security force, a UK-led multinational team of British, American, Australian and Mongolian soldiers.

“As part of the Nato resolute support mission, this force has protected more than 7,000 coalition personnel, providing critical advice and assistance to the government of Afghanistan.

“I am extremely proud of what our soldiers have achieved, and I hope the people in the battalion’s counties of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire are too.”

This was the regiment’s sixth operational tour since 9/11.

The soldiers will now be given some time off with their families.