TEARS were shed and Union flags were flown in a mixture of relief and pride as a Gwent-based regiment's soldiers returned from the front line.

Emotions were running high as soldiers from The Rifles arrived safely back at Beachley Barracks, Chepstow, from their tour of duty in Afghanistan.

One relieved relative said: “We can finally have a good night’s sleep.”

But eight men, including Rifleman Jamie Gunn, 21, from Monmouth, did not make it back with their comrades.

As delighted families welcomed their loved-ones back into their arms, the soldiers thoughts were also with the families of those who had fallen in Helmand Province.

The regiment has now completed a six-month deployment in the war-torn country, where 550 soldiers have provided security for national elections in Helmand and mentored officers in the Afghan National Army.

Two loads of soldiers arrived back last weekend and wives, children and parents waited nervously for the final 100 to arrive back in Chepstow on Thursday.

Perhaps because of the difficulty of the tour of duty, commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Joe Cavanagh said “the Battle Group has become stronger and more tight knit”.

The final coach of soldiers was due to arrive back at around 4pm on Thursday, with Lance Corporal Nathan Haines, 21, from Risca on board.

It was delayed until 8pm, with parents Kieron, 48, and Michelle, 39 and sister Kirsty, 19, waiting nervously.

Mr Haines said: “We can hopefully have a good night’s sleep when he’s home safely. It’s been pretty hard, people over here think they’ve got problems, but it’s nothing compared to what those lads go through over there.”

As her brother stepped off the coach, sister Kirsty could contain her delight that he was home safely no longer. She jumped on him and hugged him.

Vehicle mechanic Lance Corporal Haines joined the Rifles at 16. It was his second tour of Afghanistan and he was been away since January 5.

As the coach passed over the Severn Bridge in the distance, relatives jumped for joy and cheered as they watched their loved ones ride into sight.

The journey had been a long one and had taken the soldiers through Muscat, Cyprus, Germany before finally touching down in RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.

Lance Corporal Haines said he was looking forward to seeing his new house in Pontymister. He bought it before he left and wanted to see how his family had decorated it.

He will now have four weeks off and there will be a medals parade through Chepstow in May.

Serjeant (SUBS: corr - a regimental spelling) David Jeens, from the Rhondda, hugged his teary son Dylan, seven.

He said: “It’s really emotional being back.”