Royal Marines who were among the first British servicemen into Afghanistan have returned home to the UK after five month on duty.

Bravo Company, 40 Commando RM, originally left Plymouth in late August for amphibious training on exercise Saif Sareea in Oman.

But the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11 caused a change of plan, and after the exercise, 250 members of the Commando remained with the Royal Navy task group to provide a rapidly deployable force.

Elements of 40 Cdo were amongst the first to deploy to Afghanistan to support coalition operations at Bagram airfield, and later provided patrols in Kabul as security for the transition to the Afghan interim administration.

Charlie Company 40 Cdo remain in Afghanistan for the time being, and Delta Co 40 Cdo have just deployed there.

The Royals returned to the UK on Sunday, January 20 - the same day that soldiers from the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment and 23 Pioneer Regiment deployed to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Force.