A grandad with a flair for writing music is looking for a female singer to bring his songs to life.

When he's not working as a plasterer, Robert West, of Charles Pell Road, Greenstead, Colchester, composes tunes and has had his music played on local radio.

He penned his first poem nine years ago after his 11-year-old daughter was tragically killed in a road accident.

He said: "It's just a burning ambition to get something heard, not for financial gain."

Robert, 43, has just finished writing two new songs. One, a rock song, is called Independence Day and the second is a love ballad.

"It's written for a woman so it would not work with a male voice," Robert explained. "It needs a female voice to really do it justice."

Robert, who has six grandchildren, carries a notebook and tape recorder everywhere he goes in case he is suddenly gets an idea for a song.

"Inspiration can come from nowhere," he added. "Sometimes you just have a line buzzing around in your head and you have to write it down."

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