A SOLDIER injured in bomb blast in Afghanistan has refused to leave his comrades — and vowed to march with them in the Blackburn homecoming parade.

Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment Private Daniel Holding, 20, suffered neck and back injuries when an improvised explosive device detonated under his armoured vehicle.

Pte Holding, who is from Wheelton, then spent four hours under Taliban fire before being airlifted to Camp Bastian for treatment.

He is currently undergoing daily physiotherapy sessions for compression injuries and trapped nerves in his spine and neck, but is expected to fully recover in the next few weeks.

While continuing his rehabilitation from the incident, which happened on September 7, Daniel was offered the chance to return to his UK base at Catterick.

But the former St Michael’s High School student, refused to leave his comrades, saying: ‘I came on the plane with those lads and I will leave on the same plane home’.

And he is determined to be fully fit for the 1st Battalion's homecoming parade through Blackburn on December 1, which was announced this week.

His family have told of their pride and described Pte Holding as ‘an inspiration'.

His mother, Sharon, 39, said: “Daniel contacts us whenever he can and when I took the call from him a mother’s instinct told me something was wrong.

“He told me that after the explosion he had opened his eyes and everything was black. He had been catapulted upwards after his seatbelt sheared off and hit his head on the roof before crashing down again.

“He said he couldn’t move his legs or neck and it took 90 minutes for a medic to reach him as the area was under fire.

“In all it took four hours to free him and get airlifted out.

“The petrol tank had been blasted into a nearby field and the vehicle, which he says saved his life, was badly damaged.”

Pte Holding was working as a top gunner on the Mastiff armoured vehicle, which is designed to detect and withstand the blast of improvised explosive devices.

Sharon, who lives in Wheelton with husband Brian and Daniel’s 15-year-old brother, Thomas, said his desire to stay with the 1st Battalion until the end of the tour next month didn’t surprise her.

“Nothing will stop him seeing out his tour of duty,” she said.

“He has a stubborn streak and says he just want to get out there with his mates on the front line.”

A keen Blackburn Rovers fan, he was a season ticket holder and acted as mascot when he was eight, Sharon said her son was determined to march through town.

“I know he’ll be there marching proud,” she said.

“I’d urge as many people as possible to attend and show that they value the hard work and sacrifice that our armed services put in for us.”