SHROPSHIRE MILITARY Cross winner Ricky Furgusson was given an emotional hero’s welcome when he was met by an army of family, friends and neighbours on his return home from hospital.

Bunting, beaming faces and champagne greeted Corporal Furgusson when he arrived at his family home yesterday in Hilton Close, Stirchley, Telford, to an impromptu street party.

Next door neighbour Pauline Whitney summ- ed up the mood of the ch- eering crowd who turned out to greet him by saying: “He’s not just Hilton Close’s hero, he’s Telfo- rd’s and Britain’s as well.”

The 25-year-old has just finished his latest spell at the Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre near Epsom, Surrey.

Corporal Furgusson, of the 4th Battalion The Rifles, lost both legs, an eye and fingers on both hands in a bomb blast in Afghanistan in January.

He won the Military Cross -which is awarded for “an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy” — for going to the aid of wounded soldiers injured by improvised explosive devices four times.

His parents Tracy and Paul Furgusson, 28-year-old sister Melissa, nieces Chelsie, seven, and four-year-old Millie May, and his 72-year-old grandmother Margaret Bernard and her husband Dennis had not seen him for a fortnight. Chelsie said: “He’s a superstar.”

More than 20 neighbours had started an impromptu welcome home street party for Corporal Furgusson by hanging out bunting and flags and having a whipround to buy him an expensive bottle of champagne.

His father passed round beer for the cheering neighbours as the clearly delighted soldier shook hands with the well-wishers.

“I wasn’t expecting this,” said the reluctant hero.

“I had only phoned 20 minutes before to tell my mum how I was getting along with the journey.”

Mrs Whitney, who began the impromptu party by hanging out bunting, said: “I think he’s absolutely wonderful.”

The soldier’s tearful mother Tracy said: “I can’t be any prouder of him. I just can’t find the words to say how I feel. We never knew if he would live or die.”

By Simon Hardy