WRITING has proved magic therapy for a policeman who had to give up his career when he was struck down by Multiple Sclerosis.

Dog handler Tom Hill spent 17 years in the police force, 10 of them working as a police dog handler, but five years ago was forced to take early retirement.

Used to an active working day and deeply involved with training and developing canine recruits, Tom found it hard to sit around doing nothing.

Further education courses and computer studies provided some relief but then Tom, 51, took up creative writing and has shown real promise with the pen.

At his Tyldesley home, the father-of-two explained: "Five years ago I realised I had MS and had to finish work.

"Having always been active it was hard to cope with only have half or a third of the energy I used to have."

Tom took up studying and came out tops with a GCE A level grade A in English Literature.

An exam diet of Dickens and Shakespeare paved the way for his own work and Tom went from strength to strength after enrolling on creative writing courses at Tyldesley and Hindley.

Now Tom even confesses to scribbling away in bed in the dark so as not to wake his wife, Maria, when a new idea springs to mind.

Poetry, verses of which earned him heaps of praise from his tutor Jill Mumford at Tyldesley's Upper George Street Centre, rap lines which younger son Dan should soon have put to music, and a part-finished novel named "Dogged" have all flowed from Tom's poignant pen.

Tom said with a smile: "The rap number I did for elder son Joe warning he wouldn't be going out if he didn't do his homework earned me a dirty look.

"There's still a lot of work to do on the novel but I have sent examples to the MS Society magazine for an anthology of poems."

One of the pieces he found most enjoyable to write are the puppy training notes he compiled which have been passed on to Greater Manchester Police's training centre.

Manchester United fan Tom (he was born within earshot of Old Trafford) trained some top dogs during his dog handling days.

Now he's slackened the training pace with his only charge now being an 11 year-old Border terrier bitch called Holly which he rescued after it had been abandoned.

But he is only too keen to take on any advice from fellow students and tutors at the Verse and Worse Hindley-based writing group with enjoyment the main ingredient.

The group holds a weekly workshop on Thursdays 1pm-3pm at Tudor House, the Hindley Community Association complex in Liverpool Road, Hindley.

Beginners and writers of any age or status are welcome at these informal and informative meetings led by an experienced poet and writer.

Monthly socials are also held on the fourth Monday at 8.30pm in The Silverwell, Darlington Street East, Wigan.

Co-ordinator Sheila Mellor-Barnes said Verse and Worse are willing to entertain organisations with a selection of poems, monologues and songs. For details call Sheila on 01942 741220.

Bolton Bullfrog Bernard Wrigley will star at Verse and Worse's Serendipity 2001 evening of music, poetry and monologue.

The event starts at 8pm on February 24 in The Investment Centre at Swan Meadow Road, Wigan (tickets £5 and concessionary at the door).

Also appearing are Roam, performance poet Mark Newton and master of ceremonies is Monologue Joe.