A TEENAGE soldier from the North-East lost part of his right leg after a land mine exploded under his vehicle while on patrol in Iraq.

Private Christopher Thompson faces months of painful surgery after doctors were forced to amputate his badly injured leg below the knee.

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

Pte Thompson, of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, who joined the Light Infantry 1st Battalion when he was 16, had been on security duty in the Basra area 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 the vehicle leading the convoy drove over a claymore mine, triggering one of two fuses. The soft-top vehicle carrying Pte Thompson and three colleagues then detonated the second fuse, causing the explosion.

The four were peppered with shrapnel as they were thrown from the vehicle. All suffered leg injuries and two - a Corporal Howard, from Bristol, and a Private Horne, from Doncaster - are still being treated at Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital.

Doctors at the hospital told Pte Thompson's parents, Tom and Dorothy, of Howard Close, on the Woodhouse Close estate, last Wednesday that there was the risk of a fatal infection unless his leg was amputated.

Mr Thompson, a factory worker, said: "It was difficult telling him 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, known as Chrissy to family and friends, will need further skin grafts and reconstructive surgery, as well as months of physiotherapy, when he is fitted with a prosthetic limb.

Major Nobby Noble said: "I spoke to Private 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 family, many of whom live in the same street, plan to raise funds to aid his recovery.

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 said: "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."

Regimental secretary Lieutenant Colonel John Wykeham said: "The LI (Light Infantry) is doing a remarkable job in Iraq. The way the soldiers are robust in one instance and show true genuine humanity a few minutes later is extraordinary.

"We will do all we can to support those who are sadly injured in action.