A POET from Basingstoke has published a book to highlight what it is like living with Asperger's Syndrome.

Matthew Ansell, 46, recently released his book Uncovering Autism: A Book of Poetry to express to people what it is like to have the condition.

Mr Ansell, who lives in Queen Mary Avenue, South View, said there is still a lot that people do not know or understand about people living with Asperger’s, so putting pen to paper was the best way to describe it.

In a series of poems, which Mr Ansell has been working on for the past 15 years, he pulls reference from his own experiences growing up.

He told The Gazette: “When you are younger you know something isn’t quite right and people act a certain way around you, which can be quite difficult to deal with.

“I hope by putting these thoughts on paper it may help someone who is in a similar situation to I was, and give them peace of mind that they aren’t the odd one.”

The 46-year-old is hoping to be able to get the book into schools or into the hands of people who come into regular contact with people with Asperger’s or on the autistic spectrum to give them a better understanding.

He added: “I think that things are getting better in terms of support systems, but I still think there could be more.

“When I was younger, I thought that I was the only person that was like me and I felt like the odd one out.

“If I can get this book into schools or to support workers, they hopefully it gives them a better understanding.”

After building up the writings over the last 15 years, Mr Ansell said he felt now was the perfect time to finish the book and share his experience.

Mr Ansell is also hoping that medical professionals would be interested in he book to hear the way that people with this syndrome see the world around them.