DIFFICULTIES encountered by a former Wirral soldier passed "pillar to post" in his bid to seek help has led to the launch of an innovative new centre staffed by and run for armed services veterans.

The opening of Wirral Veterans’ Contact Centre tomorrow will be attended by former soliders including Simon Johnston - whose problems followingretirement from the Army in 2004 provided the inspiration for the new service.

He will join council leader Jeff Green and, on his last official engagement before retirement as Mayor and councillor, Alan Jennings.

The unit will operate from a bespoke office provided by Wirral Council at Cheshire Lines, Birkenhead; the unit will be staffed by the veterans themselves.

It will act as a one-stop-shop for help and support for service personnel and their families, avoiding calls to multiple organisations and departments at what can be a stressful time.

The Wirral Veterans’ Contact Centre will work in partnership with the many other organisations and charities who offer support to our Armed Forces and Merchant seaman communities.

With its own website, logo and branding it is hoped that the new service will provide a real lifeline to veterans and their families who have in the past faced problems getting support.

The idea behind the new facility is that veterans - who have first-hand experience of the unique issues and problems facing other vets and service personnel and their families – are best placed to offer appropriate and advice and assistance.

Inspiration for the unit came from of a meeting between Cllr Green and Simon, who retired from the Army in 2004 after tours of Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, and was later found to be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress disorder.

He said: "Initially, I was passed from pillar to post and it was a real struggle to get the help I needed.

"There is a great deal of support in Wirral for the Armed Forces, but this does not always translate into real, practical help when people need it most.

"From personal experience, I know the kind of problems that people face and I wish a unit like this had existed back then.

"Everyone involved in this project is determined to make it a success and do all we can to support our Armed Forces."

Councillor Green said: "Talking to Simon it was obvious that there was a real need for co-ordinated support that avoided people having to ferret out that help themselves, sometimes when they were under real stress.

"No one deserves our support more than the men and women who have served their country in the Armed Forces so very early on we decided to set aside £20,000 to help establish this unit, provide office accommodation and start up costs for volunteers who can then signpost members of the armed forces, their families and local veterans to a range of services."

Councillor Jennings said: "I have been helping to raise money for Help For Heroes during my term of office and considered it a privilege and an honour to make this the last official engagement of my Mayoral year.

"I would like to pay tribute to Simon, his fellow veterans, and organisations such as Combat Stress, the Royal British Legion, Help for Heroes and the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency who will be helping to ensure that people have access to the kind of support they need."