The partner of speedway star Danny Ayres who killed himself last year launches mental health charity for riders

Watch a report by ITV News Anglia's Hannah Pettifer

The partner of a speedway star who took his own life earlier this year has said he was failed by a lack of mental health support.Mildenhall Fen Tigers rider Danny Ayres was one of the sport's most exciting and talented stars, but he struggled to cope with life when the sporting season ended.

Jodie Pledge, Danny's partner said that he was judged by medics when he admitted to using drugs to cope with his problems and that his mental health needs were not taken seriously.She is launching a charity in Danny's name that will help support other sportsmen and women who may struggle with mental health issues out of season.

Danny killed himself in February this year.

He lived with his partner Jodie and their two children in Mildenhall in Suffolk.

In July last year he made it to the Speedway British Final, but despite his success on the track he struggled to cope with everyday life.

He drank and took cocaine during the periods when he wasn't competing.

Jodie said he tried to get help dealing with the highs and lows of his career but was ultimately let down because of a lack of mental health provision. She said: "You've got a 10 minute slot with this person and they have to make this evaluation of what they need, if Danny sat there and said I can't sit still, my brain doesn't stop, I just want to feel normal, what's wrong with me, but then he says in the next breath I do drugs, I take cocaine, as soon as he mentions that they say, you do drugs?"

Jodie believes Danny admitting he took drugs pigeon-holed his diagnosis and the wider aspect of his mental health was ignored.

The charity will officially launch next year to coincide with speedway's 'Danny's Day', set up in his memory.