THERE were tearful scenes at Colerne's Azimghur Barracks when 25 of the regiment's soldiers returned from the Gulf.

Friends and family gave the troops a heroes' welcome when they arrived at RAF Lyneham on Thursday.

The returning men and women had been split between Kuwait and Basra, the scene of the most intense fighting, for the last two months. Their role was to provide vital communications for the Joint Helicopter Force.

Army wife, Claire Knight, 21, rushed to greet her husband, Lt Cpl Jason Knight, 26.

Mrs Knight said: "I have been waiting for this moment for weeks. I have missed him so much that I have felt nervous, almost as if we were on our first date all over again."

Her husband said: "It's unbelievable to see her. We're going to make the most of our time back together." Jan Hannah, 36, showered her husband, Sgt Karl Hannah, with kisses.

She said: "I am so happy I can hardly put it into words. I have had butterflies in my stomach all morning while I have been waiting for him to arrive."

Sgt Hannah said: "It has been a long journey home, but seeing my wife again is fantastic.

"I'm glad that we can now celebrate our wedding anniversary together next week." The soldiers are looking forward to between two and four weeks leave but the homecoming is not permanent for many of the troops.

The regiment's commanding officer, Colonel Ivan Hooper revealed plans to send some of them back out to the Gulf in July to relieve other members of the regiment still stationed in Kuwait and Basra.