A HEROIC soldier who hit the headlines after a dramatic bombing in Kosovo is to play a prestigious part in this year's Remembrance Day commemorations.

Lance Cpl Robert Thompson, who saved the life of the Serbian ambassador's secretary after the bomb blast at the passport office in Kosovan capital Pristina, has been chosen to represent the Territorial Army at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, November 10.

The 31-year-old, of Kidderminster, was promoted to lance corporal from private after April's life-saving episode.

He said it would be a "massive honour" to take part in a muster parade contingent called Today's Service People as part of the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance.

"It should be a fantastic event and I'm absolutely delighted to be going," said the soldier, who trained at Kidderm-inster's Birmingham Road TA Centre, and is the only TA member chosen to attend the parade.

"Obviously what happened in Kosovo has a lot to do with it but I think I may also have been chosen as I have served in lots of other countries including Northern Ireland, Germany and Cyprus."

His brave efforts began when on his most recent tour of duty to Kosovo he sprang into action after the ambassador's car exploded, killing him and critically injuring his secretary.

The part-time soldier, who works as a driver for a builder's merchant, spent 20 minutes stabilising the severely wounded secretary - who had multiple shrapnel wounds to the back of her head, teeth smashed into her throat and her tongue blown in half - before her life was later saved at hospital by a neurosurgeon.

Yet his remarkable actions were bettered two days later when he helped UN police and army colleagues catch the bomber in a raid on his home after the assailant, whose details were already on criminal files, left a discarded cigarette at the bomb scene.

Lt Cl Mark Hiskett, commanding officer of the West Midlands Regiment, said: "Both myself and the regiment are enormously proud of Lance Cpl Thompson's achievements.

"He is a fine example of the courage and self dedication of the TA soldier and the invaluable contribution they make to the regular army."

Lance Cpl Thompson enlisted into B (Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters) Company, part of the West Midlands Regiment, after completing three years as a fusilier in the regular Army.

He has since spent four years with the TA and is one of six regular and reserve forces personnel from each of the armed forces due to take part in the festival.