FAMILY members formed part of a heartbreaking gathering to welcome home the bodies of a Wiltshire couple killed in the Tunisian beach massacre today.

Coffins carrying the remains of John Welch, 74, from Corsham, and his partner Eileen Swannack, 73, from Biddestone, near Chippenham, arrived on a RAF C-17 aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this afternoon.

John and Eileen were staying at the RIU Imperial Marhaba, in Sousse, when their hotel was attacked by gunman Seifeddine Rezgui last Friday.

In a poignant show of solidarity, military personnel unloaded the coffins, which were topped with white flowers, and carried them from the transport plane to waiting hearses.

The task, performed by members of the RAF Regiment’s Queen’s Colour Squadron, was witnessed by relatives of the dead who were present at the airbase.

Eight coffins, carrying the couple of eight years and six other victims, were loaded into hearses to make their final heartbreaking journey.

Their remains will now be repatriated alongside the bodies of Christopher and Sharon Bell, Scott Chalkley, Sue Davey, Angie and Ray Fisher.

John and Eileen were among 30 British citizens who lost their lives when Rezgui opened fire on holidaymakers on a beach. Their return home came just two days after the couple were confirmed as victims of the beachfront atrocity, and on the same day a minute’s silence was held around the country to honour the victims.

In Swindon, crowds gathered in Wharf Green at noon, and Thamesdown Transport buses paused on their regular routes to pay tribute to the victims.

Former plumber John’s grandson Daniel Welch, who lives in Swindon, said the couple enjoyed twice-yearly visits to the hotel for the past eight years.

Before their deaths were confirmed Daniel said: “They like the area. They like the hotel. They like the staff. They adore the place.”

Asked if they had been enjoying the holiday, Daniel said: “The last we heard, absolutely. They said that the weather was very hot. They said that they were seeing familiar stuff because they go there so much.”

The total death toll now stands at 38, including three Irish nationals, two Germans, one Belgian, one Portuguese and one Russian, with the youngest victim aged 19.

As the remains of the victims began their final journey, silence spread across the UK yesterday to remember the victims. At noon Britain paused to remember those who lost their lives in a minute’s silence.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon vowed that those responsible for the massacre would be “tracked down".

Police believe that Rezgui, who was shot dead by police, worked with accomplices to carry out the mass murder with the Tunisian government making a number of arrests.