A GROUP to help veterans psychologically scarred by war is running in Kingsteignton on Wednesdays.

Joan Lambert, one of the organisers, said: ‘Post traumatic stress disorder amongst our veterans has been going on for years, but nobody has bothered to find out where these people are.

‘Many men and women are suffering this horrible post-war mental condition. They’re so frightened someone is going to shoot them or blow them up.

‘Some have gone through hell with what is known as combat stress.’

Ms Lambert, a former services matron who saw combat in the Far East, said the group was set up last year. It runs for two hours, from noon to 2pm, and includes lunch, tea and coffee; a light hearted meeting; and individual counselling sessions. A handful of veterans turn up to most of the sessions.

She added: ‘Some have started to have problems as they’ve gotten older. We have a 94-year-old highly decorated World War II veteran who, as he’s aged in the last few years, has become very distressed about things that happened to him, including losing his men in a tank blast.

‘We’re open to all veterans, to anybody who’s been damaged mentally in any of our wars.

‘Come and join us, we want to help you. Come and talk to others with the same condition.’

The support group is at the senior centre at Oakford Lawn.