A Maldon breakfast club for members of the armed forces and veterans is growing – and is still on the lookout for new members, too.

Stewart Bayford, started the now 86 member-strong Maldon branch of the Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club after suffering feelings of isolation as a veteran himself.

He told Maldon Nub News: "I ended up in Maldon living by myself. I served in the first Gulf war and several tours of Northern Ireland and my PTSD and anxiety was terrible.

"Even though I had my friends, my Regiment was Midlands-based so seeing my army mates was not easy, I felt very isolated and in my head the only veteran in the area!

"I heard about the breakfast club and applied to start my own. Turns out there are loads of us in Maldon! The rest is history."

The club held a breakfast at Maldon's Constitutional Club last Saturday (29 June) to celebrate Armed Forces Day (see pictures with this article), but the activities don't begin and end with just that.

Stewart explained: "The aim is simple - to get veterans together, back to the clan.

"Veterans find it hard sometimes to blend or fit into society or talk openly about what they did and saw on active service. The club is a safe zone to relax and not be judged."

He added: "We have a full breakfast every month and we also have had shooting competitions, modelling clubs, barbeques and Christmas meals together.

"Lockdown has stopped a lot of our planned events, but we are getting back on track.

"We are also hoping to march on Remembrance Day as a troop to represent the veterans this year in Maldon High Street."

The club's rules are simple - veterans and serving personnel, including TA are all welcome and instantly members. There is no need to live in Maldon district and members from other areas are welcome, too.

For more information go to Maldon Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club Facebook page using the link here.