A HUGE street parade greeted the return of a Harpenden man serving with his RAF squadron in Afghanistan for six months. Paul Bowen, 19, of Kipling Way, was also met by proud mum Karen and other members of his family when the people of Uxbridge turned out

A HUGE street parade greeted the return of a Harpenden man serving with his RAF squadron in Afghanistan for six months.

Paul Bowen, 19, of Kipling Way, was also met by proud mum Karen and other members of his family when the people of Uxbridge turned out to welcome their boys' home to their base in the town.

Karen, a practice manager at Rumball and Sedgwick in St Albans, said: "I am absolutely relieved to have my son safe home but feel for all the other mums whose sons are still out there.

"Paul was in the air cadets as a boy and all he's ever wanted to do since he was 12 years old is join the RAF."

As soon as he left Roundwood Park School in Harpenden, Paul joined up and is now a regiment gunner with the Queens Colours 63 Squadron based at Uxbridge.

One of their main tasks was to secure Kandahar Airport during their tour of duty.

Paul, who has two brothers - James aged 23 and Stephen aged 21 - was presented with a campaign medal after the parade.