A BRENTWOOD man has documented his unique access to coalition forces on the front line in Afghanistan.

Nick Allen has just returned after spending the best part of three years embedded with NATO soldiers.

And in his book, which hit shops this week, the 43-year-old reports on how he and the troops he was with dodged death to try to defeat the Taliban insurgency.

During his time in Afghanistan, Nick, a journalist, collected an impressive collection of film and photographs, which will shortly go on display in London.

Speaking ahead of the launch of the exhibition, Nick praised the bravery of the soldiers.

"They do an incredible job," the father-of-one said. "You look at some of these lads, who can't buy a beer in their own country, but they are out there fighting but they just get on with it.

"They would just say 'this is our job, this is what we are paid to do and this is what we do'."

Nick revealed that he had been involved in about six or seven firefights.

He also spoke about the bleak and pitiless terrain in which the soldiers operated.

"Afghanistan is an extraordinary country," he said. "The landscape is very harsh and in one day you can be frozen and sunburnt."

Nick, a former Brentwood School pupil, also admitted he has his doubts as to whether coalition forces will be able to withdraw from Afghanistan any time soon.

"Everyone wants to make a dignified exit and they want to do it the right way," he said.

"However, this is going to take a long time."

He added: "Having seen the Afghan forces in action, they need a lot of work. It is naive to think we can do this in three years and 2015 will be cutting it fine."

As for his own future, Nick said: "I am mulling it over. I'm considering whether to return to mainstream journalism.

"However, if I get an offer to go back I'd have to think seriously. That place gets in your blood."

Embed: With the World's Armies in Afghanistan is published by The History Press Ltd and should be available in Waterstone's in Brentwood.

Nick's photos will be on display in Shoreditch Town Hall in London, between Thursday, October 7 and Saturday, October 9. For more information, call 0370 780 0148.