HOMECOMING troops will be welcomed back in Bury St Edmunds on Armed Forces Day this Saturday.

The day of celebration begins at 11am on Angel Hill with a homecoming parade for II Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment, based at Honington.

The parade will be a chance to welcome back troops after their recent deployment in Afghanistan and see them presented with medals.

The soldiers will march under the Abbey Gate and then up Abbeygate Street and through the town centre to the Arc shopping centre before returning to the Angel Hill, led by an RAF band.

The Mayor of St Edmundsbury, councillor Timothy Marks, and the station commander at RAF Honington, Group Captain Andy Hall, will take the salute.

The Abbey Gardens will open at 12.15pm for an afternoon of live music and entertainment, including a concert from the Wattisham Military Wives Choir.

The afternoon’s programme also includes big band music from the County Upper School Swing Band, songs from the 1940s by Stagecoach Theatre Arts School and demonstrations including a field gun challenge from the Air Training Corps.

At 4.30pm the Armed Forces Day flag will be lowered on Angel Hill and presented to the Royal Anglian Regiment by the mayor.

In the evening there will be an Armed Forces Day concert in support of Help for Heroes in the Abbey Gardens featuring The Red Mock Chili Peppers.

Tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre on 01284 764667 or Six Whiting Street menswear in Whiting Street.

Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley said: “Our brave servicemen and women are the pride of Suffolk and this country.”

Visitors in Bury on Saturday will also have the chance to visit the provisions market which has offers and special events to encourage people to support local markets.