EMOTIONS were high when soldiers were reunited with their families after months in the Gulf.

More than 50 wives and children gathered at Claro Barracks, in Ripon, North Yorkshire, to greet their heroes from 38 Engineer Regiment.

And in Germany, Major Johnny Bowron was among the first soldiers from the First Battalion Light Infantry to return to its base in Padderborn, near Hanover. He was met by his three-year-old son George, wife Jane and their 17-month-old daughter, Eleanor.

Middlesbrough-born Maj Bowron, who was involved in the Battle for Basra, said: "It is brilliant to be back where the sun is shining and I can see greenery. The children have changed in the short time I was away - Eleanor has learned to walk and George has started nursery school."

Maj Bowron, 36, went to Iraq in February and worked with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment and other infantry.

He said: "The first enemy we came across was in the town of Az Zubayr, south of Basra, where we were faced with anti-tank weapon and rifle fire.

"We attacked and gained a foothold in the town, making civilians aware that we could provide aid and liberate them.

"The locals were scared to speak to us because the terror was ingrained. They would wait until dark and then take us to secluded places to talk to us."

When his unit advanced north to Iraq's second biggest city, Basra, Maj Bowron said the civilians' attitudes were remarkably different.

"Saddam's regime was losing its grip and already people were more confident. We saw them waving and cheering on the streets," he said.

Maj Bowron, who grew up in Elton village and whose parents live in Borrowby, North Yorkshire, is expected to return to the region in three years.

In Ripon, 38 Engineer Regiment commanding officer, Major Mark Budden, returned to be greeted by his wife, Colette, and daughter, Freya, who had her first birthday on Friday.

"It was an overwhelming feeling to see them again, especially to see Freya walking, because when I left she was crawling," said Maj Budden. "We delayed her birthday party until yesterday so that I could join in - it was wonderful.

"It was an emotional feeling for all of the soldiers - one lad saw his son for the first time, he was born just four days ago. It was amazing."

The soldiers spent ten weeks in Iraq undertaking a number of tasks, including Iraqi arms and equipment collection. They are now spending the bank holiday weekend catching up with their family and friends before returning to the barracks on Tuesday.

After a period of leave the soldiers may be flown back to Iraq in July as part of an operation to relieve battle troops.