By Katie Alston

Hundreds of people are expected to line the streets of Canterbury on Saturday to welcome home the city’s soldiers and to see two local lads receive medals.

The 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment - nicknamed the Tigers - will take part in a homecoming parade after returning to the UK.

More than 200 troops will march off with their bayonets fixed at 10.30am from Station Road West to Dane John for the inspection. This will be followed by a drumhead service.

They will accompanied by the Kohima Band, PWRR’s Regimental Band. Two local soldiers will also be receiving their operational tour medals in recognition of their tour of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan from the Lord Mayor, Cllr Harry Cragg. The inspecting officer taking the salute will be the Colonel of the Regiment, Major General Paul Newton.

Private Colin White, 19, from Canterbury, will be receiving a medal for service in Afghanistan and Private Daniel Hudson, 19, also from Canterbury, will be awarded a medal for service in Iraq.

Troops with 1 PWRR were the last to serve in Basra and returned at the end of May.

Private Ryan White, 24, from Herne Bay, has been in the forces for seven years. He said: "I really hope people come along and support us. It gives us all a great boost to see the the public cheering us.

"It is nice to have the recognition at parades, so fingers crossed there will be a good turn out."

"All my friends and family should be coming along so it should be a good opportunity to show off a bit."

Station Road West car park will be closed from 6pm on Friday to around noon on Saturday.

Station Road West itself and its parking bays will be subject to restrictions from 6pm on Friday until around 4pm on Saturday.

Anybody needing access to the railway will have to go the long way round via North Lane, so they should leave more time for their journey.

There will be short term road closures in St Dunstan’s, St Peter’s Place and Watling Street while the parade passes through.

There will be a short period of time (around 11.15am) when there will be no exit from Watling Street and the Whitefriars multi-storey car parks to allow the parade to pass.

The Dane John Gardens will be open but there may be some footpath closures if the police deem it necessary on the day.