SHELLSHOCKED Bolton soldiers suffering from the stresses of frontline action are being refused treatment by the NHS.

Their cases have been highlighted in a Westminster debate when Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly urged the Ministry of Defence to do more to help them.

The Bolton MP is leading the fight for ex-service personnel -- suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) -- who cannot get treatment for their condition.

She told the Government yesterday that veterans are being refused treatment on the NHS for the psychological scarring they have incurred on active duty.

Ms Kelly called on the MoD to clarify its position on whether it is they or the NHS who should be funding treatment -- adding that if service personnel were being denied treatment on the grounds of cost alone it was "unacceptable".

Ms Kelly told the BEN that she was reacting to the concerns of two of her constituents who were both ex-servicemen and were both suffering from PTSD.

"Currently it is the health authority who determine who receives treatment for this condition," she said. "But even if a veteran is referred by a psychologist or their GP it does not necessarily mean they will receive the treatment they need."

Ms Kelly would not go into detail about the two cases in her constituency but also highlighted one recent high profile case outside Bolton when an 80-year-old former Royal Artillery soldier who suffered a "flashback" after a firework went off stabbed a neighbour thinking he was "the enemy".

"These people are obviously vulnerable and are suffering and they should be given treatment," she said.