FOR most teenagers, turning 18 means a rowdy night out on the town with their mates.

But for one Winnington man, it means he finally gets his chance to join his Army comrades in Afghanistan.

Sam Evans, of Dyar Terrace, had to stay behind while the rest of his regiment departed for a six-month tour on April 1 because he had not reached his landmark birthday.

But yesterday, Tuesday, he celebrated in style and is now ready to meet up with the rest of the 1st Mercian Regiment, on May 11.

Mum Emma, 45, said she and sisters Rebecca, 20, Grace, 11 and brother Joshua, 14, are ‘dreading’ saying goodbye.

She said: “It’s been a bit of a funny time for him really.

“He had to move out of the accommodation they were all sharing at Catterick, and has been working in the Army recruitment office in Warrington.

“But on Sunday, we all got together to celebrate his birthday.

“We’re all dreading him going and there were a lot of tears, but we couldn’t be prouder.”

Private Evans had his heart set on a career in the the military for most of his teenage years, having been in the Royal Marine cadets in Ellesmere Port before signing up when he left Hartford High School.

Emma added: “I did try to persuade him to think of other things but he was dead-set. And he’s looking forward to getting stuck in.

“In a funny way you don’t understand how they can say they are looking forward to it but it’s something they’ve trained to do for so long for and unless you are in the Army, you don’t understand it.

“He’s just looking forward to being with the rest of his mates.

“He loves going out and socialising.

“He’s got lots of friends here and I think he’ll miss them a lot. But the Army provides great contact back here.

“He’ll get time to go on the Internet and he’s also taking his laptop so they can all keep in touch quite easily.”