A TEENAGE soldier from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment has died after being hit by a car in Cyprus.

The 18-year-old was so badly injured that Army bosses were to carry out a DNA test to confirm his identity.

Police said the incident happened just after midnight on Saturday -- the day the QLR left the island following an 18-month tour of duty.

It is believed the teenager was knocked down in Dhekelia, where the QLR had been based, as he tried to make his way back to his garrison.

The soldier was wearing dark clothes and standing in the middle of the four-lane highway, possibly trying to hitch a lift, when he was hit, said Cyprus police.

A 45-year-old Cypriot driver was breathalysed and found to be sober.

The authorities were said to be "95 per cent sure" of the soldier's identity but will carry out the DNA test as his face was so badly disfigured in the accident.

The mother of the soldier believed to have been killed was today due to fly out to Cyprus for the DNA test.

Today, a spokesman for the QLR, said: "Because of the difficulties due to the condition he was in, it could be 72 to 96 hours before he is identified. We cannot say much more at the moment."

He added that the regiment had left the island as scheduled. QLR has 600 soldiers, 99 per cent of whom are from Lancashire. The battalion was leaving Cyprus for a new posting in Osnabruck, Germany.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the 18-year-old could not yet be named, adding: "We have been having difficulties over the identification of the soldier concerned.

"This has protracted the process of informing the next of kin."