SOLDIERS from East Lancashire’s frontline army battalion are to return from Afghanistan within days.

The 1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Regiment has completed its six-month tour of duty, which left three soldiers dead and many more seriously wounded.

They included Lance Corporal Jordan Bancroft, 25, from Earby, who was killed last month in a gun fight.

The battalion of 1LANCS, as it is known, is made up of 600 soldiers and around a third are from East Lancashire.

Since deployment the men, dubbed the ‘Lions of England’, have led several high profile operations including Operation Tor Shezada to seize control of Taliban stronghold Saidabad.

One of the soldiers who will be part of the homecoming is Kingsman Daniel Holding, 20, who suffered neck and back injuries when an improvised explosive device detonated under his armoured vehicle.

Pte Holding, who is from Wheelton, then spent four hours under Taliban fire before being airlifted to Camp Bastion for treatment.

Mum Sharon, 39, said: “All of the families are going to be there and it will be a very happy occasion.

This has been a tough tour but the lads have done themselves proud.”

The family reunions will take place at their UK base in Catterick.

No specific return date has yet been revealed by the Ministry of Defence but it is understood that the troops will be back in the country to within seven days.

A series of parades have been organised to welcome the troops home, including one in Blackburn.