A Territorial Army sergeant is recovering at home in Canterbury after his vehicle was blown up by a mine in Afghanistan.

Sgt Arthur Little, 43, of Field Avenue, was on his second tour of the country when the explosion happened.

“You can be the best soldier in the world but if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time that’s it,” he said. “It’s a lottery really.”

Sgt Little was in a Wimik - an open-topped version of the controversial Snatch Land Rover - when it hit a Taliban mine on the way out of enemy territory in southern Helmand Province three weeks ago.

Video: Soldier prepares for Afghanistan

After two operations to repair the right side of his face - one last week at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital - Sgt Little still has no hearing in his right ear and also has problems with his left wrist.

But Sgt Little, who serves with the 3rd battalion of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, wants to be back in Afghanistan before his tour of duty ends in September.

For full interview, see this week’s Kentish Gazette