Crowds of relatives cheered and welcomed servicemen of the UK's Joint Force Harrier as they landed and then made their way past parted RAF personnel, standing in line to honour them.

The occasion marked the end of five years of high intensity operations for the Harrier force in Afghanistan.

Pilot Squadron Leader Dave Kane, of Cawthorpe near Bourne, said he was
relishing the prospect of seeing his family again. The 36-year-old said: "What has happened today is something everyone has really appreciated."

Shortly after 3pm four Harriers in formation cut through the skies, followed by another group of four and then later a DC10 aircraft containing returning troops.

As bagpipes filled the air, RAF Cottesmore personnel formed a guard of honour for the servicemen. Proud family and friends watched on, some waving flags, as they made their way through.

Armed Forces minister Bill Rammell was there to greet the homecoming forces and gave a rousing speech. He said: "It's a delight to see them back home."

Senior aircraftman Ben Hunt, 25, arrived back on Friday, delighted to greet his 10-month-old son Oliver and partner Cpl Fay McTaggart, who also serves at the base.

He said: "It's an end of an era. It's sad but at the same time it's a relief because we don't have to go back to the war zone."
RAF Cottesmore Group Captain Ken McCann performed his final ever Harrier flight.

He said: "I would like to thank the Harrier Forces of Cottesmore and Wittering which has shown itself in spades for the past five years."

Sadly not everybody made it back. SAC Gary Thompson, 52, and SAC Christopher Dunsmore, members of the 504 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment based at Cottesmore were killed in Afghanistan.