A man who was arrested in Luton on Tuesday at the homecoming parade by British soliders has been charged with an offence under the Public Order Act.

The 18-year-old, from Luton, has been charged with racially aggravated harassment (verbal abuse) and will appear before Luton Magistrates Court on Wednesday, March 18.

A second man, aged in his 40s, was issued with a fixed penalty notice.

Both men were released from police custody on Tuesday night.

The two men were arrested following a homecoming parade through Luton town centre by soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment.

While hundreds of well-wishers lined up to cheer on the battalion, nicknamed The Poachers, a smaller group of protesters shouted at the parade. Police seperated the two groups.

Superintendent Mark Turner of Beds Police said: "Yesterday's events were captured on CCTV and we will be examining those tapes closely to see if any further offences have been committed. If so those individuals responsible will be dealt with.

"It is important that people understand that those who chose to disrupt the parade yesterday represent a small minority in what was generally a very peaceful crowd. Luton remains a very cohesive town where overall relations with the many diverse communities are good."