Colchester Castle provided a spark of light to encourage veterans to speak out about mental health.

Help for Heroes lit up the castle in support of those veterans who are delaying asking for psychological support.

Blue Monday saw the Stigma Clock projected onto the Tower of London, switched on by England Rugby World Cup winner and TV star, Matt Dawson.

Colchester, which is home to one of four Help for Heroes recovery centres, joined this campaign highlighting the four-year wait it can take veterans before they reach out for support.

The castle was lit up in Help for Heroes colours and displayed the Stigma Clock, organised by Colchester Council.

Tina Bourne (Lab), councillor responsible for housing and communities, said: “As a garrison town the issue of mental health support for our veterans is very real.

“It’s such a concern veterans are not accessing mental health support when they need it and we hope by supporting this campaign we can help change that.

“The more people who can get behind this worthy cause, more can be done to support those veterans seeking help to heal their psychological wounds.”

One veteran who delayed asking for help is Stephen Salmon, 35, who has received support from Colchester Recovery Centre.

For a decade Stephen battled to keep his mental health issues under wraps.

He said: “There is an instant acceptance that you’re here and they will support you.

“When you’re ready to talk Help for Heroes are ready. It took me ten years to reach out for help.

“If I was able to go back to the start of my journey and give advice to myself it would be to not bottle it up and seek help sooner.”

Help for Heroes also thanked Motion Mapping UK for its help with the illumination.

Help end mental health stigma at CutTheClock.com.