SOLDIERS last night experienced an emotional homecoming after a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq.

About 150 troops from the 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment returned to Catterick Garrison from a peace-keeping role working with Iraqi security forces.

The return of the soldiers, who were based 20 kilometres south-west of Basra city, was tinged with sadness following the death of their colleague, 21-year-old Private Luke Simpson, from East Yorkshire, who was killed by a bomb in February.

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Jackson, commanding officer of the battalion, praised his troops for their maturity and professionalism following the tragedy.

He said: "Private Simpson's death was the lowest point of the tour, for me and for the rest of the battalion. I was impressed by the way the soldiers picked themselves up and got back onto the streets afterwards."

Lt Col Jackson described the tour, which began last November, as highly successful.

He said: "We did a variety of jobs, most of which involved getting out and meeting Iraqi people and building up their confidence in their security forces."

The battalion operated over an area the size of North Yorkshire and drove 700,000 miles during the deployment.

Soldiers regularly spoke to Iraqi residents and representatives of the Iraqi army, security forces, border police and civic figures, including town mayors.

Lt Col Jackson said: "I spoke to local sheiks and leaders of the army, police and local authorities and they gave me a real feeling that things had improved in the seven months since we were in Iraq."

Most of the 450 troops from the battalion have returned from Iraq over the past two weeks.

The final 150 were due to fly into Durham Tees Valley Airport, near Darlington, late last night before being reunited with their families at the garrison.

Over the next fortnight, they will have a chance to readjust before three weeks' leave.