CROWDS of Royal British Legion veterans and members of the public, along with friends and families of the fallen soldiers, began arriving in Wootton Bassett at 10am today.

Flowers were laid at the war memorial alongside Remembrance Sunday poppy wreaths.

Relatives and friends of Guardsman Jimmy Major wore RIP Jimmy T-shirts with an image of the soldier.

There was a high police presence, with sniffer dogs being used to boost security.

Today is Wootton Bassett's 98th repatriation and Anne Bevis, treasurer of the town's Royal British Legion branch, said support from the townspeople would not wane.

"Each repatriation is different, and it does not get any easier," she said. "They have all done their job and paid the ultimate price so a few moments of our time is nothing in comparison.

"We have come to represent everybody across the UK, and even overseas, in supporting our forces.

"When we first started doing this it was a personal tribute but now we do it to represent the whole nation, but it is no less real to us.

"The way the five soldiers died has shocked people. Roadside bombs and being shot can be expected in wartime, but training someone and working alongside them for them to turn on you is shocking.

"It must be terrible for their colleagues to have to carry on, but they go on because they have to."

Mrs Bevis said her own son had served with Nato in Afghanistan in the early years of the conflict.

"When I hear about another death, in my mind I see those mothers and how awful it must be for them to wait for that name to be read out," she said.

David Smith, 83, has travelled to Wootton Bassett from his home in South Ham, Basingstoke, Hampshire, for 14 previous repatriations.

His wife, Joyce, who accompanied him with friend Reg Bull, said today: "It is a 100-mile round trip but David served in the Army during the Second World War and in Singapore with the RAF so he feels he needs to be here.

"He just decided one morning that he was going to come for the repatriation of eight soldiers and has been here ever since to respect them coming through for all that they have done.

"We are here to support the families. If someone needs a shoulder to lean on, we are there for them and to recognise what is going on in the world."