Royal Marines have returned to their Scottish base after they "relished the challenges" of a six-month tour of Afghanistan.

Many 45 Commando marines have spent the past few weeks on leave after the tour in the Nad-e-Ali region ended last month.

On Friday, the unit returned to work at its RM Condor base in Arbroath.

The company has lost 13 serving marines in action in Afghanistan since 2006 but they reported no deaths in duty during this latest mission.

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Lee said: “We have relished the challenges and immense privilege of operating alongside our Afghan partners to deliver to Nad-e-Ali the view they have genuine optimism and hope.

"Nad-e-Ali had been hard fought over for years and bitter experience left its people resigned to inevitable summer fighting. This brought hopelessness, fear, susceptibility to intimidation and unwillingness to resist the insurgency or side with legitimacy.

"We recognised the need to change the paradigm, break the cycle of violence and prevent the traditional fighting season, with Afghan forces in the lead, without reducing the pressure on the insurgents."

Violence fell 86% in the region compared to the same period last year, which Lt Col Lee put down to the “courage, determination, unyielding soldiering and common decency of young Royal Marines."

He added: "Their humanity and insatiable desire to make a difference made the difference. Serving these marvellous men has been the greatest privilege of my life."