By Niamh O'doherty PUBLISHED: 07:53 EST, 20 December 2012 | UPDATED: 10:58 EST, 20 December 2012 Sixty soldiers have returned from Afghanistan to spend Christmas with their families. The members of the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 Scots), flew back to Edinburgh three months earlier than initially planned. The Ministry of Defence said the move is part of the planned troop reduction in the country, which will see the number of service personnel in Afghanistan reduce from 9,500 to 9,000 before Christmas. More than 3,800 British troops fighting in Afghanistan will be home by Christmas next year, David Cameron announced this week.
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Soldiers from 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland head home after handing bases over to Afghan control
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Prime Minister announces more than 3,800 troops fighting in Afghanistan will be home by Christmas next year
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September this year, where they have been training and mentoring @placeholder
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soldier was shot dead by a rogue member of the @placeholder army as he played