The motion was proposed by Alderman Jim Shannon, DUP MLA, and seconded by Cllr Simon Hamilton, DUP MLA.

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During Tuesday night's council meeting, councillors also voted to assist in making Ards available for such a parade.

Mr Shannon, speaking during a lengthy debate in the chamber, said the borough of Newtownards is inundated with families linked to the military.

He described how he has fought in the council chamber to ensure members of the armed forces who "have given their all for us" must be allowed to "retain a quality of life back home when the battlefield has taken nearly everything they had to give".

He said: "Our brave men and woman deserve our support while away, while recuperating and while reintegrating back into civvie life, and we are striving to show our support at all times.

"I am thankful and this is the reason that I support the recent calls for parades to honour those coming home and why I support those who are injured and need a little help, and this is also why I remember our soldiers and their families in my prayers daily.

"As the news depicted the deaths of the three young paratroopers recently, it brought it home more firmly as I looked at my three boys – and it made me even more determined that those who don the uniform of the Queen and serve under her flag should understand that they are worth more back home than merely a pay check and a free parcel at Christmas.

"It is for this reason that I fully support the News Letter's campaign to give our soldiers the welcome home that they deserve – it is plain wrong that the only time we hear about them is when there is a death abroad.

"Every day in countries throughout the world our soldiers put their lives on the line for us and this is an opportunity to show some that we know and are grateful for their service."