A FORMER soldier from St Helens who suffered with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after leaving the forces, had his leg tattooed to raise awareness of the charity which is helping him to overcome depression and anxiety.

It is not the first tattoo for Shaun Floyd, 31, of Boundary Road, but he hopes this one will have a positive impact and help "take away the stigma of mental illness, especially for ex soldiers."

The dad-of-one, who served with the British Army for eight years - including tours of Iraq and Kosovo -, was tattooed on Wednesday (June 29) at The Bleeding Rose studio in Barrow Street.

Former Rainford High pupil Shaun, who has a two-year-old daughter, said: "I was in the army for eight years and I still suffer with PTSD now. There's not enough awareness of it out there.

"It took me a while to get in touch with the charity Combat Stress - there's such a stigma around mental health.

"Being in the army, you don't really talk about your feelings."

The image, which took tattooist Dean Knowles around an hour to complete, shows the silhouette of a soldier with writing beneath saying 'not all wounds are visible, PTSD awareness'.

Shaun added: "When I was medically discharged from the army, I started on a downward spiral - drinking heavily, not sleeping, getting into trouble.

"I didn't really want to acknowledge what was happening, but it was getting out of hand and I finally built up the courage to approach Combat Stress. Due to them, I'm much better now and have been volunteering and enjoying spending time with my daughter."

He says he doesn't like to talk about the experiences that may have led to him developing PTSD, adding: "I did a tour of Iraq and one of Kosovo. I was based in Cyprus, Germany, Canada, all over."

After getting in touch with Combat Stress, he was sent for an intensive six-week therapy course in Scotland.

He said: "Combat Stress are struggling to raise funds and I wanted to give something back after all they've done for me They've been a godsend."

He said The Bleeding Rose did not charge for the tattoo to ensure all money he raises goes to the charity.

Anyone who would like to donate to Combat Stress can visit combatstress.org.uk.