Crowds will line the city streets today to welcome home hundreds of soldiers from an Oxfordshire regiment.

For the first time in its 50-year history, the 23 Pioneer Regiment based in Bicester will march through Oxford.

The homecoming parade, which features many troops returning from Afghanistan or United Nations peacekeeping duty in Cyprus, usually takes place in Bicester but has been rearranged because of the town’s redevelopment.

Lt Col Dom Fletcher said: “This is the first time Oxford has hosted a military parade since 2006. It’s our chance to thank the community for the support they give soldiers and their families. Hopefully it will be quite a show.”

The regiment will form up in Parks Road at 10.30am before marching to Broad Street for 10.40am.

There they will be inspected by the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, John Harwood, Oxford’s Deputy Lord Mayor Alan Armitage and Bicester’s mayor Rose Stratford.

Campaign medals will be presented to soldiers just returned from Afghanistan, including Alex Stringer and Craig Winspear – both of whom lost limbs on their most recent tours of duty. This is expected to take about half an hour. Members of the public planning to saltue troops are advised to get into Oxford early.