Four veterans are set to walk from Worcestershire to London to hand deliver a letter calling for more mental health help for ex-military personnel.

Alexander Pallett and the three other veterans will leave Bromsgrove later before arriving at Downing Street on Tuesday, Armistice Day.

It comes after Mr Pallett’s childhood friend, Rob Homans, 35 and from Bromsgrove, took his own life in August. Mr Homans’ mum Dawn Turner, writer of the letter, believes her son was failed by the government and Ministry of Defence (MoD).

In response, an MoD spokesperson said it had invested more than £25m in specialist mental health support for veterans.

Mr Pallett said his friend had had been “struggling for years” after leaving the army and would recall “horrific” memories across his 10-year career.

“He told me he was trying to get help and trying to get housing but nothing was available to him and when it was there was a big waiting list,” he said.

“In my eyes the system has failed him and we need more help for veterans when they have mental health problems.

“When they leave war zones and decide to leave it’s just, ‘See you later, mate’, and it shouldn’t be like that.”

Mr Pallett said if soldiers were better reintegrated into civilian life his friend would now still be alive.

Discussing the walk, Mr Pallett said the entire journey would total 117 miles (188km) with the group aiming to walk about 27 miles (43km) most days.

“Going into London, hopefully there’s going to be a few people that will meet us to join the march and then we will be going to 10 Downing Street to deliver this letter so something gets done,” he said.

“This will not stop until we see some sort of change.”

The letter has been written by Mr Homans’ mum Dawn Turner, who is also the founder and former CEO of veteran mental health charity, Stepway.

In a previous interview, she told the BBC: “The Armed Forces Covenant isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. Rob was told he wasn’t a priority despite all these promises that veterans would get help.”

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

“The government and the MoD are failing our veterans. I want them to be held accountable,” added Ms Turner.

An MoD spokesperson said: “Our deepest condolences go out to Robert’s loved ones and our thoughts and sympathies are with them.

“While we cannot comment on individual cases, we want to ensure that no veteran falls through the cracks.

“The government has invested more than £25m into Op Courage so that veterans in England can continue to access specialist NHS mental health and wellbeing services.”