Dignified applause greeted a cavalcade carrying the bodies of five British servicemen through Oxford, as 500 people lined the streets today to pay their respects.

The event followed a call to honour the 102 soldiers killed in action in Afghanistan since the current conflict began in 2002.

The cortege carrying Privates Nathan Cuthbertson, 19, Daniel Gamble, 22, and Charles Murray, 19, all of 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, who were the 98th, 99th and 100th soldiers to be killed in the conflict, drove slowly through Marston and Headington.

The bodies of Lance Corporal James Bateman and Private Jeff Doherty were also carried in a journey from RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire, where their bodies were repatriated, to the John Radcliffe Hospital, where post mortem examinations will be held.

Some of the crowd along Headley Way wore military uniforms, while others waved Union flags and clutched flowers. Many had waited for more than two hours to honour the fallen soldiers.

British Legion veterans saluted as the 12-car cavalcade passed, while others gently applauded.

Many wept as the cortege, flanked by police motorcyclists, drove by.

Michael Haines, 67, of Croft Road, Marston, said: "It was terribly emotional and my heart goes out to all their family and friends.

"They deserve what went on today, and Oxfordshire has done itself proud by honouring these soldiers and every serviceman from the local community who has gone out to fight for their country."

Parachute Regiment veteran Graham Whelan, 59, from Carterton, said: "The importance to us was they were from our regiment and most of us have served abroad at some time. These are fallen heroes and we pay our respects to our dead."

The repatriation of the five soldiers came on the day about 230 engineers, logistical staff and military training experts were to begin a tour of duty.

The move, announced by Defence Secretary Des Browne yesterday brings the overall UK strength in Afghanistan to more than 8,000.