A SOLDIER who drives armoured vehicles on Afghanistan’s bomb-ridden roads said he can’t wait to have a pint with his mates back home.

Trooper Daniel Fograscher, 21, is on his first tour of duty with 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, and is behind the wheel of the new Mastiff 2.

Despite hitting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) dozens of times, not one bomb has yet pierced the Mastiff’s armoured bodywork.

Tpr Fograscher – known as Foggy to his mates back home in Thame – said he was loving the experience after arriving in Helmand Province in October.

He said: “It’s like driving a big truck really. We are experts in fighting from armoured vehicles and have adapted our skills on the Challenger 2 tank to use the new vehicles in Helmand Province.”

The former Lord Williams school pupil added: “I reckon being here is really worth it. The Afghans deserve our help. I do miss my mates back home though and look forward to going out on the town when I get back in April.”

Mastiff 2 joined operations in June 2009, with more than 300 now in service in Afghanistan.