PROUD battle weary troops attended a memorial cathedral service to mark the end of a six month tour of Afghanistan in which two colleagues died.

The soldiers of 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, based at Alanbrooke Barracks, near Thirsk, in North Yorkshire, took part.

They were at a memorial service of thanksgiving in Ripon Cathedral yesterday after returning to the area last week.

The soldiers were deployed in Afghanistan providing artillery support for the allied troops in action against the Taliban.

Gunner Zak Cusack, 20, from Stoke-on-Trent, and bombardier Stephen Gilbert, 30, from Scotland, were killed while in Afghanistan.

An Army spokesman said: "It’s a memorial service for the troops who have just returned from a six month tour of Afghanistan.

"It’s a proud moment for the troops and it also shows that the local people are 100 per cent behind the soldiers."

This was the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery troop’s first tour of Afghanistan but they have served in Iraq before.

The soldiers in the regiment are drawn from across the country but historically it has its roots based in Sunderland.

Plans are taking place with local officials about giving the troops the freedom of Thirsk, near to the regiment’s home barracks, to allow it to march through the town.