A YOUNG soldier faces months of painful medical treatment after losing a leg after a mine exploded under his Army truck in Iraq.

Private Christopher Thompson had to have his right leg amputated below the knee after it was severely damaged by flying shrapnel in the blast.

The 18-year-old underwent surgery on Monday, for the sixth time in just over a week for a skin-graft operation.

Pte Thompson, of Bishop Auckland, will need further skin-grafts and re-constructive surgery and have to undergo months of physiotherapy when he is fitted with a prosthetic limb.

Last week doctors at Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital told his parents, Dorothy and Tom, of Howard Close, that unless the lower part of his leg was amputated there was the risk of infection that could kill him.

Mr Thompson, a factory worker, said: "It was difficult telling Chrissy that losing a leg was the safest option.

"Although there have been hard times and he gets upset from time to time, he has stayed fairly upbeat.

"He was hoping that soon after the operation he would get a false limb and could get on with learning to walk with it but it will be a long while yet.

"It is very early days but it looks like he will be in and out of theatre at Birmingham for a couple of months before months of rehabilitation."

Pte Thompson, who joined the Light Infantry 1st Battalion when he was just 16 years-old, had been on security duty in Iraq since December 19.

His troop was travelling back to Camp Abu Naji from escort duty in Al Amarah on March 11, when the mine exploded.

It is thought that the vehicle leading the cavalcade drove over the claymore bomb and switched on one of two fuses. The soft-top vehicle carrying Pte Thompson and three colleagues then detonated the second fuse and caused the explosion.

The four soldiers were thrown from the jeep. All suffered leg injuries and two, Corporal Howard of Bristol and Private Horne of Doncaster, are still being treated in Birmingham.

Major Nobby Noble said: "I spoke to Pte Thompson not long after he had his leg removed and the first thing he said was 'the last couple of months have been an amazing adventure.'

"From a lad of his age, who has experienced the things he has, that is nothing but admirable. Considering what he has gone through and will face in the future he is in extremely good spirits."

Pte Thompson's close-knit family, many of whom live in Woodhouse Close Estate, plan to launch a fundraising drive to aid his recovery. His uncle Roy Gallimore said: "We know the most important thing is that Chrissy is alive and will survive this accident, a lot of soldiers have not been as lucky and their sacrifice cannot be forgotten. But we want the best for Chrissy now.

"We hope everyone will pull together and help us raise money through charity events to make sure he gets the best prosthetic limb possible and to help family and friends travel to see him."

Grandmother Annie McGurk added: "When he was at Bishop Barrington School, joining the Army was all he wanted to do. He had to try really hard to get in because they were worried he had a back problem but he was so determined he stuck with it.

"He has enjoyed it and got to travel to Canada and Germany. Now, after his first overseas action, he will have to give up that career."