A soldier who suffered appalling injuries while serving in Afghanistan has been hailed a hero at the Britain’s Best 2008 Awards.

Lance Cpl Martyn Compton, 24, from Staplehurst, who suffererd 70 per cent burns while driving an armoured vehicle which was blown up in a Taliban ambush in Helmand, collected the Sun Global Recognition Award on behalf of all the armed forces at the ceremony.

The award was presented by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Mr Compton, who is due to marry his sweetheart, teacher Michelle Clifford, 28, in the summer, said: “I felt so proud when I shook Gordon Brown’s hand."

Britain’s Best 2008 is on ITV1 on Friday night at 9pm.

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