Tyne Tees Defence News

More than 120 personnel from the 4th Mechanized Brigade will parade through central London this afternoon.

The contingent have recently returned from a six-month tour of Afghanistan, where they were assisting the Afghan National Security Forces in Helmand Province.

The parade will leave Wellington Barracks, Westminster, at 3.20pm, and travel through the city to the Palace of Westminster. They will then attend a reception at the Houses of Parliament.

• UK
• Defence
• Armed Forces

More than 100 soldiers have returned safely to their base in North Yorkshire following a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The soldiers from 4th Regiment Royal Artillery were met by their families at Alanbrooke Barracks, near Thirsk, last night.

The 'North East Gunners' had been helping to train Afghan special forces as the withdrawal of British troops continues.

You can watch the full report from Jonny Blair below.

• UK
• Defence
• North Yorkshire

Troops from 4th Regiment Royal Artillery have returned to Alanbrooke Barracks after a six month tour of Afghanistan.

• UK
• Defence
• North Yorkshire

Troops returning to North Yorkshire have received a warm welcome from loved ones after a six month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

• UK
• Defence
• North Yorkshire

Soldiers from 4th Regiment Royal Artillery have been enjoying time with friends and family following a six month tour of Afghanistan. They arrived back at Alanbrooke Baracks in North Yorkshire.

• UK
• Defence
• North Yorkshire

More than one hundred soldiers have safely returned to their base in North Yorkshire following a six month tour of Afghanistan.

Troops from the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery arrived at Alanbrooke Barracks where they were greeted by loved ones.

• UK
• Defence
• North Yorkshire

The Department for Transport has said that under the new contract helicopters will be able to reach a larger area of the UK Search and Rescue region within an hour of take-off than is currently possible.

It added that, based on historic incident data, it is estimated there will be an overall improvement in flying times to incidents of around 20 percent (from 23 to 19 minutes).

Presently, approximately 70 percent of high and very high-risk areas within the UK SAR region are reachable by helicopter within 30 minutes. Under the new contract, approximately 85 percent of the same area would be reached within this time frame.

• Politics
• Defence
• RAF

David Cameron today hailed the first recipients of the Arctic Star medal as a "group of heroes", as he presented them with the newly-created award.

Hosting a special ceremony at Number 10 Downing Street, Cameron said: "I can't think of a prouder day that I have had in this job or a group of people I am more honoured to share it with."

The creation of the Arctic Star medal, along with the new Bomber Command Clasp, were announced by Mr Cameron in December, 67 years after the war, following a long-running campaign.

The move followed recommendations of a review of military decorations by former diplomat Sir John Holmes.

• UK
• Defence
• Arctic Convoy

Today the first Arctic Star medals and Bomber Command Clasps have been presented to veterans by the Prime Minister.

• Veterans undertook what was dubbed "the worst journey in the world", delivering supplies to Russia
• More than 3,000 seamen died on the journey, which made sure Germany had to fight a war on two fronts

• The seamen delivered ships which carried crucial supplies, including 13,000 tanks, 22,000 aircraft and 417,000 motor vehicles
• Some 58 of the 811 merchant ships involved were sunk by German U-boats, battleships and Luftwaffe bombers

• With freezing temperatures of minus 20 degrees, anyone who fell into the water died within three minutes
• The men covered a 1,500 to 2,000-mile run across the North and Barents Seas, one of the deadliest convoy routes during the war

• UK
• Defence
• Arctic Convoy