GULF war Army medic Tom Ford wasn't prepared for the horrors he witnessed in the fight to free Kuwait.

He still suffers nightmares, and has flashbacks and moodswings.

Now Tom, who lives in Atherton, has been diagnosed as suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and is one of many North West soldiers suing the Ministry of Defence for compensation.

He told his story on TV last week when he featured in the Close Up North programme "Soldiering On", which examined the fight for recognition by veterans still psychologically damaged by their experience.

It also investigated whether the clamour for compensation does more harm than good, and asked what price is paid by those suffering from PTSD when they are left to soldier on alone.

Tom, was called to the Basra Road, the main desert road out of Kuwait, not long after the Allies had finished bombing all the vehicles fleeing down it.

He said: "I was just not prepared for what I saw. I mean you were sticking sunglasses on burned bodies, on their faces and sticking cigarettes into their mouth.

"It's just the soldiers' way probably of hiding their feelings, at the end of the day making a serious thing a joke."

He said coping with black humour only helped him in the short term.

Tom left the Army following a disciplinary discharge and has been diagnosed as suffering from PTSD brought on by his experiences in the Gulf.

As well as nightmares he said he has been unable to hold down a job, is irritable and withdrawn, has been in trouble with the police and has had violent outbursts of anger.

He is now suing the MOD for alleged negligence for failing in their duty of care for him and hopes to get his disciplinary discharge changed to a medical discharge.

Taking on the fight is Manchester solicitor, Mark McGhee, who is bringing lawsuits worth a potential £20 million in compensation.

He said: "If they don't win at the end of the day hopefully we've done the best job we can for them, but hopefully, personally, they've gained in terms of dignity and respect, Because they've stood up you know, they've been counted."

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