MAKE sure you buy your Worcester News on Wednesday so you can fly a Union flag and give our local regiment a heroes’ welcome now that they have returned from Afghanistan.

The flag with the logos Give Troops A Heroes’ Welcome will be found near the centre of Wednesday’s paper and it is hoped our readers will fly them with pride as more than 400 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) march through the city centre on Thursday lunchtime.

A poll on worcesternews.co.uk has shown 78 per cent of our readers will turn out in force to show their support for the soldiers on parade following a service at Worcester Cathedral starting at 11am.

Candles will be lit for the five soldiers who have been killed in action during the recent six-month tour of duty. Private Jason Williams, of Worcester, was killed in Afghanistan on August 8 this year after stepping on a roadside bomb while trying to retrieve the body of an Afghan army soldier who had been killed in an earlier attack.

The other soldiers from the regiment who were killed are Private Robbie Laws, of Bromsgrove; Lance Corporal Kieron Hill, of Nottingham; Private Gavin Elliott, of Worksop, and Sergeant Michael Lockett MC, of Monifieth, Angus.

Worcester MP Mike Foster, a Labour minister for international development whose work covers Afganistan, said: “It’s an important day for Worcester to pay its respects and to show its appreciation for the work of the local regiment and honour, in particular, those who were killed in the recent tour of duty, including the lad from Worcester, Jason Williams.”

After the cathedral service at 11am, troops will march in their desert combat uniform from College Green at noon and parade through the city centre. They will be accompanied by members of the Worcesters and Foresters Association who are former soldiers from the regiment.

The lord lieutenant, the mayor of Worcester, and the deputy colonel of the regiment will take the salute as the regiment passes the Guildhall. Afterwards, the mayor, Councillor Andy Roberts, will host a special civic reception at the Guildhall for local soldiers, their families and guests.