A YOUNG soldier from Whitefield is recovering from serious injuries after a "friendly fire" attack on his tank in Iraq.

Andy Julien, aged 18, is in Wythenshawe Hospital, blinded in one eye and with two broken legs. He has undergone four skin grafts and reconstruction operations on his leg muscles.

Shrapnel hit his left eye, causing blindness which doctors hope will be temporary.

This week Andy's mother, Mrs Avis Julien, relived the moment she got a call from army officials telling her that her son -- a gunner with the Queen's Royal Lancers -- had been seriously injured in a "friendly fire" attack on his Challenger tank last month.

"I just wanted to get out there. I felt so helpless," said Mrs Julien, of Balmoral Avenue.

The injuries to Andy, a former pupil at Philips High, were described as "very, very serious".

Mrs Julien added: "It will be a very long process for Andy to make a full recovery. But his spirits are high and hopefully he will make a good recovery over the next few months."

Andy's father, Trevor, has organised a fundraiser for his son with friends and colleagues from his workplace, Group 4 Security and younger brother Anton, 9, got classmates and teachers at Heaton Park Primary School to sign a "get well" card.