HUNDREDS of people are expected to line the streets of a market town to welcome home members of an Army squadron after six months in Afghanistan.

About 120 members of 10 Field Squadron Royal Engineers will parade along the High Street, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, later this month.

The public is being encouraged to get involved in the event and show their support for the troops.

Members of 10 Field Squadron, based at nearby RAF Leeming, will take part in the parade only two days after arriving back in the UK.

The homecoming is thought to be the first such parade to be planned for Northallerton in a generation.

Primary schoolchildren will line the route of the parade, which will start at 11am on Thursday, March 25.

It will be attended by Lord Crathorne, the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, as well as Northallerton mayor Tony Hall and Group Captain William Gibson, station commander at RAF Leeming.

An RAF spokesman said: “The celebration follows a tour during which the squadron has been helping to build relationships with the local community and make the lives of local people much easier.

“It is hoped that as many people as possible will turn out to welcome the troops home.”

The parade will be followed by a service at All Saints’ Church in the town.

Councillor Hall said: “The parade, led by the RAF military band, will start from the auction mart car park, join the High Street from Romanby Road and march the full length of the High Street.

“We would like to see as big a turnout as possible.

“I will be writing to businesses, encouraging them to get involved by putting up bunting.

“The participation of the local schoolchildren will help to make the parade extra special.

“It is important that events like this are held, up and down the country, to give members of the public the chance to show their support for our Armed Forces personnel.”

■ A homecoming parade was held in Bedale, in January, for members of 2 Force Protection Wing and 34 Squadron, also based at RAF Leeming. The town came to a standstill for the event, which was attended by several hundred people.