Soldiers set to parade through Watford have received a hostile reception during a homecoming march in Luton today.

An extreme Islamic group waved posters reading “Anglian soldiers go to hell” as more than 200 members of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, marched through the Bedfordshire town.

Police officers had to intervene as people who had turned out to welcome the troops home, confronted members of the group.

The troop, who are known as The Poachers and recruit from across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, will be in Watford town centre tomorrow (Wednesday) for the Freedom of the Borough march, organised by Watford Borough Council.

The event marks their return from a six-month tour in Iraq.

The troop will set off from Lower High Street at 12.30pm, and will be inspected by Councillor Jan Brown, chairman of the council, outside St Mary's Church.