A soldier is set to be given a hero’s welcome when he returns home from Afghanistan.

The family of Royal Marine Commando Andrew Bartlett are preparing to welcome him back to his home in Suttons Lane, Hornchurch on Saturday April 20.

Norman Bartlett, Andrew’s dad said: “We are really happy to have him coming home.

“We will be putting flags outside our house and that will be a big surprise for him.”

Andrew, 26 who is based at Taunton Somerset with 40 Commando has been serving in Afghanistan for the last six months on his second tour of duty.

His first tour was in Djibouti in the Gulf of Aden near Somalia.

Norman said: “He has told us that it was obviously very difficult but people were extremely friendly and the little they had they would share.

“We have been worried about him, but we were lucky that we have been able to contact him by phone once a week.

“There were times when we couldn’t get through to him and that is when we got really worried.”

The former Campion student signed up to the Royal Marines three years ago.

Norman said: “He always wanted to serve his country.

“He came out of university and there was lots of things he could have done, but that is what he wanted to do.”