A MAN who has struggled with his mental health has launched a barber service to help those who struggle to get out of the house.

Andy Nash, from Stockton Heath, has created Barber Anxiety, a first-of-its-kind mobile barber service.

The business is set up to not only offer a flexible barbering service - going to people's houses whenever it is convenient for the customer but also for men and boys who struggle to leave their house through anxiety or disability.

The 33-year-old said: "My service is for everyone who struggles with the normal barber experience whether that be because they are too busy to wait around or they are too old and cannot leave the house.

"I'm on call 24/7 when anyone needs me."

After losing his dad to suicide in 2005, Andy found himself unable to talk about his grief and turned to drink to block out his feelings.

In 2011, with the arrival of his son, Andy knew he didn't want him to go through what he had and he decided to open up more to his mum.

Writing on his blog, Andy said: "I found a local barbers I’d nip in get my haircut every week, eventually I started to open up about little bits of my life and found comfort in doing so getting bits off my chest helped.

"The barber had no idea how much of an effect he was having on my life.

"This is where I decided that’s the career I wanted.

"I wanted to be able to make people feel the way I did the comfort and feeling of self worth when leaving the barber's chair."

The dad-of-one went to college to train as a barber and at the same time sought counselling through his GP.

After qualifying as a barber, he gained more confidence and began to come out of his shell.

He said: "It gave me a sense of fulfilment, making people feel better."

Andy was taken on by Ilham's Barbers in Padgate where he flourished.

He added: "I gained more than I could have hoped for. I gained my confidence as well as my self-worth back and the opportunity to help and give back to others.

"I’ll never be able to repay him for what he has done for me because money can’t by it.

"I was later diagnosed with depression and anxiety but the medication wasn't enough, I needed to find a way to control and deal with my thoughts.

"I found meditation felt silly at first but now I couldn’t do without it."

He launched Barber Anxiety as a way to help make people's lives easier and to make a difference.

Andy has also volunteered his time and skills to offer his services at Room at the Inn, cutting homeless people's hair.

He covers Warrington and Runcorn and appointments can be made through Andy's Facebook page, Barber Anxiety.