Heroes Welcome was launched last May by the South Bay Traders Association with support from the Evening News.

Now, as well as its own website, there is a Heroes Welcome group on Facebook, with almost 300 members.

Association spokesman John Senior, a former Major with the 16 UK Air Assault Brigade, said the site was a quick and convenient way of sharing information and promoting the scheme.

He said: "Somebody said 'why don't you try Facebook?'.
"It's something that people will look at which allows them to join the Heroes Welcome family on Facebook. It's just a bit of fun but we do have a lot of support."

The 48-year-old, who is a director of the Senior Group, said there had been a lot of positive feedback for the Heroes Welcome scheme from serving personnel in the Armed Forces as well as from back home.
Scarborough Council, the Forum for Tourism, Scarborough Hospitality, Scarborough Urban Renaissance and First TransPennine Express all back the initiative.

It offers Army, Royal Navy and RAF personnel and veterans, discounts at hotels, restaurants and a range of other businesses in Scarborough.

Mr Senior said he hoped other towns and cities would follow Scarborough's example and set up similar schemes to honour servicemen and women in other parts of the country.

Any businesses and organisations who would like to offer their services to the Heroes Welcome scheme, giving offers and discounts to the armed forces, can contact South Bay Traders Association chairman John Senior on (01723) 360922. People who would like further information about the scheme are advised to visit www.heroeswelcome.co.uk