A SOLDIER who lost both his legs in a suicide bombing in Iraq has thanked the Daily Echo for launching a campaign to buy him new limbs.

We launched our Let's Help Neil scheme to back a fund set up by colleagues of Corporal Neil Heritage following the incident in Baghdad last November.

The 24-year-old, from Hamworthy, Poole, lost both legs above the knee instantly when a suicide bomber blew up a car just feet away from him, and spent two months in hospital before being transferred to a military rehabilitation centre in London.

Neil's colleagues at London-based Explosive Ordnance Disposal set up the Neil Heritage Fund to raise money for £30,000 hi-tech prosthetics, to replace the ones he was given on the NHS, and for adaptations to the home he shares with partner Claire Renshaw and her son Callum, five.

Since we backed the campaign and announced our aim to raise the £30,000 for new legs, cheques and offers of help have been flooding in.

Neil and Claire visited the Daily Echo offices to collect the first batch of cheques, totalling more than £5,000, and to say thank you to editor Neal Butterworth for launching the campaign.

Neil said: "It was amazing how many cheques and things had come in. Some of the things that people had written were really nice.

"Neal can't do enough to help. I had quite a nice chat with him. I came in and had a look at the newsroom and I saw some nice photos that were taken."

Neal said it had been "a privilege" to meet Neil and Claire.

He added: "I know how touched they are by the response from Echo readers.

"We have passed on all the messages of support from people who have been kind enough to support Neil and I can assure you that they are so grateful for all the support."

If you would like to donate, send cheques payable to Neil Heritage Fund to: Lorraine May, Daily Echo, Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, BH2 6HH.

First published: April 5