“IT IS possibly one of the worst four months you will ever go through in your life.”

Those were the words of an Oxfordshire musician who was spurred on by his experience of living through his father’s tour of duty in Afghanistan to raise money for Forces charity Help For Heroes.

Bass player Derek Mobbs is a member of Witney-based group Contraband, who have recorded a song as a tribute to family and friends currently serving in Afghanistan. They will release the charity single, titled Heroes, in February, dedicated to the armed forces.

Mr Mobbs, 26, from Carterton, said he knew how the families of servicemen could feel, following his father Peter’s recent tour in Afghanistan with the RAF.

He said: “You have no contact with them and you can only sit and wonder what they’re going through.

“It is a really difficult time, and the lead up to it is just as bad as when they are out there.”

He and lead singer Shaun Thomas, 23, also have friends in the armed forces. Mr Thomas said: “We are both from Carterton, so you grow up around Forces’ life.

“One of my best friends is going out on his first tour of duty in February, so I can see how nerve-wracking it is. We wanted to do something.”

The band also includes guitarist Dan Hobbs and drummer Will Thomas, both 21.

The single was set to be released before Christmas, but was put back after the release of TV X-Factor’s Help For Heroes fundraiser, also called Heroes.

A shortened version of the song is already available on YouTube, where it has had more than 1,400 views.

  • The song is released on iTunes in February – go to contrabandtheband.net