SOLDIERS back from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan bagged a fine catch in Stanford-le-Hope.

The 15 soldiers were at Warren Fishery’s Square Lake to see if fishing could help post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Battling off rain and thunderstorms, the veterans spent two days camping and learning about how fishing might help with the disorder The trip was part of a unique study to see if the sport can help get soldiers back to normal.

Researcher Dr Mark Wheeler said: “Despite the atrocious weather conditions, we managed to not only catch some fish but also put some smiles on some veterans’ faces.

“All in all, it’s been a highly successful start to what we hope will become a regular event at the Warren.

“The next fish-in is scheduled for the middle of September with a new batch of veterans.”

Almost 40 carp, the biggest at 18lbs, were caught overall, plus a few bream. Royal Anglian veteran Matty Woollard was first to catch a fish with an 8lbs mirror, while ex-paratrooper Patrick Moir, from West Mersea, also scored a few catches.

Clinton Selvey and Timothy Hett said they were “ecstatic” to catch fish on their first ever fishing trip, while the only woman veteran, Jorden Day, showed the men how it was done by landing five carp.

The trip was part of a wider study by Essex University and Anglia Ruskin University, run by psychology PhD researcher Dr Wheeler and Dr Nick Cooper.