AS a teenager, Anthony Axten knew what he wanted out of life.

A keen fan of media, he was excited to make his dream come true in the film and music industry.

Living in London, and being on a film course at college, he was well on his way to success.

However, after having to move to Colchester in 2014, he lost it all.

He had been living with another family member in the big city, but had to move into his mum's house in Greenstead, which was too small.

He spent about six months there, sleeping on the sofa, before ending up in a youth hostel - Bernard Brett House.

Anthony, 25, said: "It wasn't the worst place but you saw things you didn't expect to see.

Gazette: Anthony Axton, Youth award winner and photographer pictured at Firstsite.

"People were going through worse conditions. I was trying to keep my mind occupied.

"There were people who were constantly drinking and taking drugs. It was for people who for whatever reason couldn't stay with their parents."

His distraction was through music.

He said: "I really like my music. Whatever mood I was in I just put my headphones in and wandered around town.

"I would just sit outside Firstsite and think about what I could possibly achieve if I pulled my finger out."

He spent a year there until he was about 21, during which time he met a woman. He thought it would lead to a better life, but he continued to face problems.

Anthony said: "I met someone in there at the time, she was bidding on a council flat and one came up for her, not thinking about myself I just moved out with her.

"I gave up my place at the home to be with her. I was smoking a lot when I was there, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

To distract himself from Bernard Brett House and life out of work, he would focus on music and the arts.

He said: "I was going to Firstsite on a weekly basis. I wanted to do something but didn't know how.

"I could have got a job but it would never last long enough, my work ethic wasn't good.

"My relationship wasn't going anywhere and because of where our mindset was we were prioritising other things over our responsibilities."

After about two years the relationship broke down, and he moved into his younger brother's house in Colchester.

He had taken up work at a toothpaste factory, working 12-hours shifts determined to make enough money to buy some new camera equipment.

He said: "My friend in Colchester would take me along to his shoots and I would help out wherever I could.

"I knew if I didn't crack on with life this would just prolong itself."

He also took up volunteering at Signals Media Arts Centre, which inspired him to go into photography full time.

He said: "The work is not as consistent as I'd like and I still need a job to this day, but there's a lot of opportunity for me here.

"I'm constantly working at it."

Anthony is now moving between Colchester and Romford, to be with his girlfriend.

He recently won a Personal Journey award at the Colchester Youth Awards for turning his life around.

He was nominated by friends and family who had seen what he had been through.

He said: "It was really good to win, it was a strange night as I'm used to going on stage with a camera, but not in front of a large audience.

"I ended up being taken to hospital that night with a lung problem, but I was still so overwhelmed.

"It was a checkpoint for me, it was an achievement."

To find out more about his work visit www.facebook.com/AAFilmAndPhotography.