By Ben Frampton BEING a police officer was all Hywel Griffiths ever wanted to do and despite getting the devastating news 12 years ago that he had Parkinson's disease, he is still doing the job he loves.

PC Griffiths, 43, from Machen, joined South Wales Police at 18 before transferring to the Gwent force in 1995.

After suffering with a limp and pains in his shoulder for a year, which he thought was caused by his work as a dog handler, he went to the doctors in 1998.

Doctors initially thought it was metacarpal syndrome and he was given painkillers but when he did not get any better, he was referred to a neurologist who diagnosed him with the disease.

He said: "I was gutted, I thought it was the end of everything but I put myself forward as a message of hope - it's been 12 years since I was diagnosed and I'm still working full-time. You don't give up, you can live with it and adapt to it."

It is not known what caused him to develop the disease and he has an identical twin brother, Alun, who is unaffected. No-one in his family before him has Parkinson's.

He needs to take three kinds of medication daily, as well as injections.

PC Griffiths, who lives with his wife Karen and their children Catrin, 14, and Aled, 11, was transferred to the major crime unit at Ystrad Mynach police station where he helps compile and study intelligence in ongoing investigations.

He said the diagnosis has encouraged him to push himself and he spent five years studying through the Open University to get a Bachelor of Science degree and a diploma in social policy and criminology.

PC Griffiths added: "The support I've had is brilliant and I've been able to carry on doing the job I've always wanted to do."

• Parkinson's awareness week runs from April 19 - 25 and there will be events across Wales to raise money to help find a cure. For more information about Parkinson's go to www.parkinsons.org.uk