12 July 2012 Last updated at 08:08 ET

City marches to welcome home Yorkshire Regiment soldiers

Soldiers from First Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment have been marching through Bradford and Leeds today to mark their return from a tour in Afghanistan.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment have marched through West Yorkshire to mark their return from serving in Afghanistan.

Troops paraded through Bradford before marching in Leeds city centre. They have already taken part in parades in East and North Yorkshire.

Leeds mayor Ann Castle said the city was proud of "these men and women".

Earlier this month the government announced the regiment's 2nd Battalion would be lost as part of defence cuts.

The Yorkshire Regiment currently consists of three full-time battalions.

'Huge support'

The cuts mean the 2nd Battalion, formerly the Green Howards, will be absorbed into the rest of regiment in autumn 2013.

In March, five soldiers from 3 Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, were killed when a bomb exploded under their vehicle in Helmand province.

Capt Alex Nancola, from the 1st Battalion, said: "For all the soldiers of the 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment it is great to be back on home soil in Yorkshire.

"We have been away in Afghanistan for six months, and more for some, and as ever we received huge support from the Yorkshire public.

"This is just a small way we can thank the people of Leeds, and equally it is a chance for the Yorkshire Regiment soldiers to feel the support of the city."