LIVERPOOL’S Lord Mayor welcomed some of the city’s volunteer soldiers back from duty in Afghanistan.

The event for 17 volunteers from 33 Signals Regiment took place at the Town Hall on Saturday.

Cllr Steve Rotheram, who recently held a civic event for regular soldiers and their families who had recently served in Iraq, said: "I believe that as a city we should honour these highly-skilled professional people and their families and acknowledge them for their bravery and selflessness.

"I am delighted to mark the soldiers’ safe return and have the utmost respect for the essential work they do in extremely difficult circumstances. I want to thank them on behalf of everyone in the city."

Ian Meadows, Honorary Colonel of the regiment, said: "33 Signal Regiment provide secure and dependable communications to our forces in Afghanistan. They have recently returned from a very difficult theatre where they have served with distinction.

"As their honorary colonel, I can say they have done Liverpool and the North West proud and I’m very pleased that the Lord Mayor of Liverpool has seen fit to mark their service by welcoming them and their families to Liverpool Town Hall.

"It is likely that more volunteers from the Territorial Army and particularly 33 Signal Regiment will be required to work alongside regular soldiers in the future, and I’ve no doubt they will be forthcoming."