Barton soldier tells of escape from death

THIS photograph shows how close a Barton-Upon-Humber soldier came to death when his Land Rover was ripped apart by a Taliban land mine.

Lance Bombardier Matthew Richardson (22) is back at home with his family after spending more than a month in the specialist Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.

As reported in the Scunthorpe Telegraph, Matthew's feet were shattered when the Land Rover he was driving on patrol in Afghanistan struck a land mine last month.

Matthew said: "I'm really lucky because normally there are no survivors.

"We've always been saying there should be better underside armour for these vehicles.

"Everyone who has seen the photograph has said I'm lucky to be alive."

For the full story, see today's Scunthorpe Telegraph.