The 1st battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers is moving from Episkopi barracks, Cyprus, where is has been stationed for more than two years, to Dale Barracks in Chester.

An advance party has arrived in Chester, tasked with making preparations for the move of the remaining soldiers and their families over the coming weeks.

All soldiers and their families will be in based in Chester by the end of August.

In Cyprus the infantry battalion was on permanent standby for short notice deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan, and many soldiers were deployed there during the Cyprus tour.

The battalion formally announced its arrival in Chester yesterday by putting up the battalion's sign at the entrance gates to the barracks in Upton.

Captain Frankie Taylor, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, said: "The battalion is looking forward to this posting and getting to know our new surroundings.

"We have carried out a thorough and important job while in Cyprus, but this move brings us much closer to home.

"The battalion in residence of Dale Barracks here in Chester has always been delighted by the support it has received from the local community, and we look forward to developing those links as we settle in."

The Royal Welsh formed in March 2006 from the three Welsh infantry battalions of the Prince of Wales division. Wales' first large infantry regiment recruits its soldiers from around Wales.