THE mum of a Westhoughton soldier who died in Afghanistan says she feels like her "son's death was for nothing" following last week's Taliban takeover in the country's capital Kabul.

Kingsman Darren Deady was just 22 years old when he was shot in Helmand, Afghanistan, during his second tour of duty.

His comrades from the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment fought to keep him alive and he was rushed back to the UK for hospital treatment.

He died from his injuries less than three weeks later with his family, including mum Julie Hall, by his bedside.

She said: "After the Twin Towers attacks, Darren believed that by fighting in Afghanistan he was helping to make the world a safer place.

"Now I feel everything our military did out there, everything we sacrificed, was for nothing.

"I'm still so proud of what my son did, and the lads he served with, and I know he would do it all again to make a difference.

"But what has happened now wipes out all the good they did. I fear for the women and children out there.

"We are so angry with what is happening and so are some of the lads he served with."

It comes as veterans and families of soldiers killed in the Afghan conflict have hit out at the 20 years of British sacrifice in the war-ridden nation.

Like many, Julie. 56, fears that the return of the Taliban mean that troops have died in vain, including Darren and 456 fellow servicemen and women.

Since Darren's death in September 2010, Mrs Hall has set up the Darren Deady Foundation in his name to support struggling veterans.

She said: "I’ve seen lads who are still suffering nightmares from their time fighting in Afghanistan. This will affect them drastically – they will feel everything they lost their mates for was pointless.

"Boris Johnson is undoing everything our troops fought for, everything the survivors are still fighting against. My son felt he was making a difference for the children in Afghanistan.

"He used to tell me they had nothing. I would send sweets and pens for him to hand out. What are their lives going to be like now? The Taliban will slaughter them.

"It feels like my son’s death was for nothing, and that’s a horrible feeling."