A GROUP of soldiers who have returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan will be paraded at Turf Moor on Saturday.

The Clarets fans, from the 1st Battalion the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, will be VIP guests at the Championship clash against Reading.

The club, aided by shirt sponsors Fun88.com, came to the soldiers’ rescue by answering their request for full kits to train in the intense heat of Afghanistan, where they lost three colleagues, including Lance Corporal Jordan Bancroft from Burnley.

Corporal Danny Fort, 31, who first contacted the club, said: “I sent an e-mail asking for help because training in our gear was unbearable and we wanted to show off our colours.

“Some Rovers fans out here had already written to Blackburn and only got a letter from a player in return, and we always knew Burnley would be more generous.”

Anthony Fairclough, Burnley FC director of commercial affairs, said: “Everyone is well aware of the amazing job our soldiers are performing in Afghanistan and we should all be doing all we can to support them.”