A NORTH-East soldier has escaped a suicide bomb attack which claimed the life of his best friend.

Perry Sanders, from Billingham, near Stockton, who is serving with 16 Signal Regiment, is devastated by the death of his friend, Wayne Bland, in Afghanistan.

The suicide bomber struck as an Army convoy, with Signaller Sanders, 19, driving one of the vehicles, made its way through the eastern outskirts of Kabul, on Monday.

His mother, Amanda Sanders, said: “It was horrible.

“Perry phoned me straight away. He just said he was driving and they got hit. He said he was all right.

“He won’t talk about it. I am leaving it until he comes home. All I am doing is talking to him over the internet.”

Sig Bland, who was from Leeds, was due to visit Teesside when the two men returned home on leave.

Miss Sanders said the family had been looking forward to welcoming him.

“Wayne and I talked via the internet. He said Perry had invited him down and he asked me what the nightlife was like. Perry was also going to go down to Leeds,” said Miss Sanders, who has four children.

She said Perry’s siblings Keisha, aged three, Page, 12, and ten-year-old Kane could hardly wait to see their brother.

“I am just over the moon that he is coming home. I can’t wait,” she said. “The kids don’t know whether they are coming or going.

“We are definitely going to have a big party. I hope lots of family and friends will come.

We are all making banners for him.”

Sig Sanders, who is a dedicated sportsman, went to school in Billingham.

His mother said: “He loves football and rugby. He went to Australia and played rugby for the Army. He likes all sports.”

When he comes home, Sig Sanders will have five weeks’ leave.

His mother said: “Hopefully, we will go for days out and it will be a time to catch up with everyone.”