New home for injured Shropshire soldier Simon Vaughan

A Shropshire soldier badly injured in a bomb blast in Afghanistan has made the long-awaited move into his new home with his family after a campaign to raise £150,000.

Corporal Simon Vaughan, of Hodnet, joined his wife Donna and eight-year-old son Ben at the specially-adapted bungalow in Ercall Heath, near Newport, on Saturday.

The cash has been raised by a series of events held in the county since April last year and special features in the bungalow include a purpose-built table for Mr Vaughan to sit at and wide doors to help him to access different rooms comfortably.

Mr Vaughan, 27, suffered a serious brain injury after the vehicle he was travelling in drove over an unexploded bomb while he was serving with the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers in December 2008.

Doctors warned he might never be able to breathe unaided and could remain in a vegetative state – but Mr Vaughan, who was tipped by top brass for a role in the SAS, has overcome the odds and is now breathing for himself and communicating through a machine.

Mrs Vaughan has spoken of her delight and relief that the family have finally been able to move into their new home and has thanked those who supported the fundraising campaign and worked on the bungalow.

She said: "It is amazing just to be able to spend some quality time together and be a proper family again.

"Ben is delighted to have his dad home permanently and be able to see him more.

"The work inside has been complete, but the garden is ongoing.

"When it is complete we will probably have a party, but for now we just want to get on with being a family again."