Coma soldier in wedding row

One soldier was killed in the attack last March

A soldier who was in a coma on his wedding day after being injured during the Iraq war is being sued by a hotel for cancelling the reception.

Lance Corporal Alan Tudball, from Merseyside, was involved in a so-called "friendly fire" incident, when a US plane opened fire on his patrol.

His fiancee Claire McCombe was forced to cancel the event at the Leasowe Castle Hotel in Moreton because of the incident and now the couple is being sued for £2,500.

However, managers at the hotel said they issued proceedings only because they believed the Ministry of Defence would foot the bill for the event, which should have taken place on 19 April.

Mr Tudball, from Moreton, was injured on 28 March this year when a US A-10 Thunderbolt anti-tank aircraft opened fire, killed one of their troop and destroyed two armoured vehicles.

The Leasowe Castle was our dream wedding venue Lance Corporal Alan Tudball

Mr Tudball, who is still paralysed in his left arm, told the media: "We decided to get married in 2002.

"The Leasowe Castle was our dream wedding venue and the owner agreed to us holding our reception there even after I found out I was going to war.

"My squadron leader promised me that he would let me come home to get married but there was always a chance that something would happen. And unfortunately it did."

Trooper Chris Finney, 18, who was driving the vehicle, was awarded the George Cross for pulling Mr Tudball from the wreckage.

Mr Tudball added: "I understand (they have) a business to run but these were exceptional circumstances.

'No fault'

"Claire and I would never have cancelled the wedding unless we had no other choice."

The couple have now rescheduled their wedding for 2004 but will not be having their reception at Leasowe Castle.

Peter Atherton, the owner of the three-star hotel, admitted he is now considering dropping the action against the couple.

"It is not Alan's fault that he has been injured or that we went to war," he said.

"We have pursued this purely on the basis that the costs would be covered by the MoD, not Alan."