A POLICE dispatcher who has handled horrific events in the course of his job has spoken about how photography helped his mental health.

Andy Hicks took up photography after being signed off from work with stress and depression.

“As you can appreciate, in my job I talk to lots of different people who are in desperate need of our help,” said Andy who has been working at Wiltshire Police for the last 25 years.

“The stresses and strains of the job take its toll.

“The worst job was when I had someone shoot themselves while on the phone to me.

“Then about four years ago, I dealt with a lady who had unfortunately hanged herself and that just tipped me over the edge. I became very upset, I came home after a night shift and just burst into tears. I went to sleep for a couple of hours and woke up in floods of tears again,” said Andy.

During his time off Andy came across an iPhone photography course on Facebook.

“I thought I need something to take myself out of the house and away from everything. I’ve always liked photography and I started learning bits and pieces on my phone.

“Doing the course encouraged me to go out and have a walk, take pictures of things and just focus on other stuff,” he said

Andy, from Freshbrook, mainly photographs nature and rural scenes. “Anything and everything inspires me,” he said.

"Going out in the countryside helps to relieve the stresses and strains of life.

“It’s almost being one with nature. If you go out walking you get to see a heck of a lot. Nowadays life is all about rush, rush, rush, and how many of us take the time to sit back and see what’s actually going on.”

Andy, a member of the Adver's Swindon Camera Club for about a year, started just using his iPhone and now prefers a Nikon bridge camera for his snaps. “You don’t need anything fancy, it’s just a point and shoot but it does me.”

He said: “I love going outside. Ever since I started doing this I’ve made friends and acquaintances, all of a sudden there are people to talk to.

“You can be on your own or with others in a hide all day, waiting for that photo.”

Andy now travels all over Wiltshire to take his snaps, often meeting up with other photographers. “I find that it just keeps my mind focused on something else. Lots of people want to go to the gym or a run, I just feel the need to go out in the fresh air.

He added: “It’s something anyone can do. At the end of the day you can just go out with you mobile phone.”