Mike Buss spent four years deployed in Northern Ireland while the Troubles continued and was medically discharged from the army with hearing loss.

The 50-year-old spent nine years as a soldier, first in the Territorial Army, then in The Royal Green Jackets, since absorbed into the Rifles.

As he was medically discharged from the army whilst serving operationally in the Northern Ireland conflict that lasted more than 30 years from the late 1960s, Mike was awarded a War Pension - initially worth about £6,000 a year.

And Mike, from Highworth, has personal experience of how the cap on benefits for those in receipt of compensation or war pensions for being injured while on military service affects people.

Mr Buss, a freelance journalist and owner of his own media company, MB Media Global, said: “I was on disability benefits for two years between 2012 and 2014 after being diagnosed with PTSD, I found it hard to leave the house without panic attacks."

“Because of my war pension I lost about 45 per cent of my Employment Support Allowance. I got about £80 every fortnight instead of £150.

“I wasn’t able to have my gas on for the whole of those two years.

“During the winter, I would just put a jumper on and throw a blanket over me whilst sat the sofa. I couldn’t afford to put the gas on,  and an electric fire was too expensive to run. I just wrapped myself in a blanket.

“When I needed hot water to bathe or wash, I would quickly put the immersion heater on, which was electric.”

"If I had been able to get the full ESA it would have made a huge difference, that’s why I support this motion to council.”