A VETERAN has cycled 500 miles in five days in protest to ongoing prosecutions against British soldiers who served during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Former Parachute Regiment member Royston Brett, who served two tours in Northern Ireland from 1990 to 1991, rode from Edinburgh to London in time to join a protest match at Parliament Square this morning.

The march was in support of Dennis Hutchings and other veterans who are being prosecuted for their actions during The Troubles, a violent 30-year conflict between Northern Ireland and Britain from October 1968 to April 1998.

Royston, 45, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), said: “Everywhere I travelled to on the bike during my challenge thinks the way veterans are being treated in these cases is disgusting.

“They are the victims of a witch hunt.

“The British Government and Ministry of Defence are refusing to get involved with the cases because of the Good Friday Agreement and I do not think it is right.

“They are failing to look after veterans who served their country."

Royston, from Golborne, undertook a similar challenge in January, riding his bike around the north west while carrying a ‘Justice for Sergeant Alexander Blackman’ flag.

The marine had been convicted of murder after killing an injured Taliban soldier.

Royston also feels strongly against Wigan Council's failure to progress its plans to open an armed forces community hub in the borough.

The council announced in 2015 that it was working in partnership with the Sea Cadets to identify a suitable site to provide support to veterans and their families.

Royston said: “It is time for the council to act.

“The hub idea has been shelved for too long now and veterans need all the help they can get.”

Karl Battersby, director for economy and environment at Wigan Council, said: “We are committed to creating an armed forces hub which will benefit the serving and veteran community of the Wigan borough.

“At a time when other councils are having to use reserves to balance the books, we are not, and our commitment of £500,000 remains in the budget.

“This is all while we maintain one of the lowest council taxes in Greater Manchester.

“The plans for the hub are progressing as we work through the details of the technical design and operating model and we will soon be engaging with the armed forces community on how the new hub will operate and what they want to see in the centre.

“Our work with veterans and serving armed forces members is a key priority and we are working across the borough to support them.

“Our commitment to our armed forces community has been recognised with two award nominations in the forthcoming Royal British Legion Greater Manchester and Lancashire awards, for individual achievement for our armed forces key worker Chris Walker and Wigan Council is shortlisted for the public sector award for excellence in the delivery of service to the armed forces community.”