THERE were emotional reunions yesterday as friends, family and loved ones greeted the returning heroes of the Welsh Guard from Afghanistan.

The soldiers landed back RAF Brize Norton before heading to an army base in Aldershot to meet the crowds following a gruelling six-month tour.

One of the families on hand to give the men a hero's welcome was Sarah Davies, 33, and her five-year-old son Nye, who were eagerly anticipating the arrival of husband and father Lee.

Mrs Davies said: "We're really proud of him, we've been worrying all the time and trying not to watch the news."

The couple would speak most weeks on the phone while Lance Sergeant Davies was on the front line, but have not seen each other for three months, when her husband had a fortnight's leave.

Mrs Davies said watching her husband leave again after coming home was "absolutely dreadful."

"To have him back home safe and then have to let him go again was atrocious."

Embracing her husband, Mrs Davies added: " It's wonderful to have him back - it's like Christmases and birthdays all at once - I just want to give him a big cwtch and never leave his side."

The troops were met by a crowd of more than 300, proudly waving Welsh flags, banners and sporting T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase 'Daddy's a hero.'

Lance Sgt Davies, who has served in Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Bosnia, said: "Afghanistan was so intense, it was the hardest tour I've done. The most difficult thing was missing the family, it's so hard some days. It's brilliant being back home, words can't describe it, it's fantastic."

Kathryn and Brian Kemp, of Risca Road, Newport, were the proud parents of returning Guardsman Edward, 26, who was returning from his first tour.

Mr Kemp, 64, said: "It's been difficult, it's a mixture of pride and concern for his safety."

The family got letters and text messages from their son, and his mother said: "Today is a huge relief and we're very happy to have him home safely."

They were part of a 1,300-strong battle group, working in temperatures exceeding 50C, to increase and deepen the reach of the Afghan government in a region north west of Lashkar Gar.

Troops worked alongside the national army and police force, helping with security in the run-up to the country's election.

'Great to be back home'

LANCE Sgt Paul Ratcliffe, 31, of Broadmead Park, Newport, had been in Afghanistan little over a month when a convoy he was travelling in was ambushed by insurgents.

An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off just metres from the side of the road he was travelling along, before the group came under fire from enemy forces.

Lance Sgt Ratcliffe, who has toured in Iraq and Kosovo prior to his latest stint, said: "There were a couple of hairy moments, the first was when the IED went off - it made us jump."

Following the explosion, Lance Sgt Ratcliffe said his training kicked in and the group instinctively checked for casualties before returning fire at the enemy until they could escape.

Fortunately, no-one was injured in the ambush.

Then in August, L-Sgt Ratcliffe was at base camp when an enemy mortar dropped in, exploding just ten metres away from him.

Flying shrapnel tore into his right arm and he had to be taken to a military hospital at Camp Bastion where he needed dead flesh removed from the wound, before he was given three stitches and 20 staples in his bicep.

Now, he is looking forward to seeing his parents, Linda and Noel Herbert, and his brother and sister, Jason and Kerry Ratcliffe.

He said: "It's great being back home, just to see the relief on my family's face to see me home safely."