By Marianne Garvey BBC News, Colchester

Major Hew Williams lifts his baby son Ieuan in Colchester

About 150 soldiers from the Third Battalion of the Parachute Regiment have been greeted by their families as they returned to the UK following a tough six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The paratroops, who were part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, received a hero's welcome when they were reunited with their loved ones at their Hyderabad barracks in Colchester.

They described how the tour had been difficult, but morale had remained high.

"At times, it was like the opening scenes of 'Saving Private Ryan' - it was like nothing else," said warrant officer Tom O'Malley.

Lieutenant Matthew Birks, from 51 Squadron, Royal Engineers, who returned to Britain last week, oversaw British troops deployed over a vast area of the Helmand province.

They were responsible for using high explosives to demolish enemy firing positions.

Lieutenant Birks described one "particularly frightening experience" in Sangin, where he was sent in on a reconnaissance mission but had to withdraw "almost immediately" as his troops came under fire.

You wake up with the fear, you go to bed with the fear Soldier's wife Kate Hardie Paras return home

Undeterred, the operation went ahead regardless that evening.

He said, "It felt very risky - going back to the place where we'd been so heavily ambushed, so soon after".

Lance Corporal Matt Carse, a Royal Military Policeman, said "in Sangin and certain other areas, there would be contact every day."

On one occasion, he was part of a team out looking for a man declared "missing in action".

He was searching through cornfields "dodging incoming fire and rockets".

'Not easy'

For the families of the personnel, waiting for news of their loved ones was "highly emotional".

Kate Hardie said waiting for her husband was an "emotional rollercoaster"

"It's like an emotional roller coaster, you're always afraid of getting 'that call' or seeing 'that car' pull up outside the house," explained Kate Hardie, who had been patiently waiting with her sons Sam and Ben for her husband's arrival.

She added: "It's been a long time coming. It goes with the territory though - if you marry a paratrooper, you have to deal with it.

"It's not easy though, when they're away, you have to be everything to the kids - mum, dad, gardener, cook, cleaner - everything.

"You wake up with the fear, you go to bed with the fear.

"The boys find it hard to understand, I try and simplify the situation for them. I tell them there are 'goodies' and there are 'baddies' out there and their Dad is one of the 'good guys'.

"I don't really know how to describe the last six months but I know I've been highly emotional. I find the simplest of tasks become mountains, I'm just consumed with fear - the whole time."

'Sternest of tests'

Jane Wright, wife of Sergeant Chris Wright, had also been waiting with her two sons for her husband to return.

Mrs Wright said: "I thought this day would never come.

Sgt Chris Wright with his wife Jane and their son, Bradley

"It's been so hard, there's so much on the news, your heart goes every five seconds.

"You're always waiting for 'that call' but thankfully, it didn't come."

Bradley Wright, eight, Sgt Wright's eldest son, said he was happy his dad was home and he was "looking forward to going bowling with him".

Senior military representatives later described the tour as a "particularly difficult operation".

Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Tootal, the commanding officer of the 3 Para Battle Group, said: "The past six months have provided the sternest of tests.

"All elements of the battle group have consistently operated above and beyond the call of duty.

"They should be proud of what they have achieved."

He said his men had not gone out to Afghanistan "looking for a fight", but when faced with some of the most demanding conditions the British military has experienced in years, they responded "robustly".

Captain Chris Prior, Adjutant of Third Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, said most soldiers "found themselves in different scenarios from what they were used to", but added that their morale had "remained high" during the "intense" fighting.