The county could witness its biggest repatriation to date on Thursday following the death of four soldiers in Afghanistan last week.

The bodies of L Cpl Peter Eustace, of 2 Rifles, Lt David Boyce and L Cpl Richard Scanlon, both of 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, and an un-named soldier from The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment are due to be flown back to RAF Brize Norton this week.

The plane is expected to land at the base at 12.30pm, with the cortege to pass the memorial garden in Carterton at 2.45pm and arrive at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital at 3.30pm.