A TEENAGE soldier who lost part of his right leg in an Iraqi mine blast has vowed to make a quick return to Army life.

Private Christopher Thompson said that although his schoolboy dream of serving on the front line was over, he wanted to forge a new career in the Forces.

The 19-year-old, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, said: "I will not be able to be a front-line soldier, but I hope I can learn to be a driver or something like that.

"The way I see it, I lost the leg, but that has happened now and is in the past. I have to get on with my life and move forward."

Pte Thompson was wounded in March when a landmine exploded under his soft-top vehicle while he was on security duty near Basra, during his first overseas action.

Six months after doctors had to amputate his right leg below the knee, he is fighting fit and walking on a prosthetic limb.

Yesterday, he joined a sponsored walk on Hadrian's Wall to raise money for disabled soldiers' charity the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association.

He was accompanied on a mile-long stretch of the walk by 1966 football World Cup winner Jack Charlton, who praised the teenager's brave recovery.

Mr Charlton, who served with the Windsor-based Horseguards for two years, said: "That lad is a brave, good lad who got a lot closer to danger than I ever did as a soldier. He has a very good attitude to what has happened and is keen to stick with the Army once he has recovered. I admire his determination.

"He spoke to me about the Paralympics and how inspiring it was. We both saw the 100 metres race, where the winner sprinted the distance in just 11 seconds -and he had his leg missing below the knee, just like Chris."

The fight to stay with the Army is not the first battle Pte Thompson has faced in securing the only job he longed for as a youngster.

He had to overcome a back problem to win a place with the Light Infantry 1st Battalion when he left Bishop Barrington School aged 16.