AN Ex army man from Pontypool who spent months out of work because of post traumatic stress disorder has been helped in to work.

Lee Green served in the army as an infantry soldier for eight years, undertaking three tours in Northern Ireland and one in Iraq. Following his Iraq tour he took the decision to leave the army as he was suffering from post-traumatic stress.

Upon returning home, Mr Green, suffered with harrowing night terrors and had to claim Incapacity benefit to survive.

Mr Green, who lives with his wife Samantha and three children, age 11, 10 and seven, said: "At night it's like I am reliving my time in service. In the night I'm not just dreaming but actually jumping around too.

"In the morning it's like I have had no sleep, as I'm moving around so much in the night, so I still feel drained." After being on Incapacity Benefit for six months, the 35-year-old decided the best way to tackle his disorder was by trying to find work.

As he knew he needed a lot of help he approached the Want 2 Work team for advice.

His Want 2 Work advisor arranged for him to carry out eight hours permitted work a week at Barry Jones Damproofing and Timber services in Pontypool to see if he could cope with the pressures of working again.

Mr Green showed a real talent for the trade but couldn't further his career without the appropriate professional qualification. Want 2 Work stepped in and arranged for him too have the appropriate training and so he became a Certificated Surveyor in Remedial Treatment (CSRT).

Mr Green, who is now permanently employed by the firm, said: "Working has given me a purpose again and I can now support my family financially.

"I don't think my night terrors will ever go away but concentrating on work has helped them to ease a little."

Mr Green's boss, Barry Jones, added: "Lee is a great worker. I'm so pleased that Want 2 Work arranged for his training, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to take him on."