A nurse with a passion for poetry is leading a double life - as a songwriter for one of the UK’s biggest Asian artists.

Robina Mohammed, 29, was born in Kashmir and moved to Watford with her family when she was four.

She began writing poetry from an early age but now works at Watford General Hospital where she is an outpatient nurse.

She said: “I’ve always really enjoyed writing. Even while I was doing my A-levels, I used to share what I had written with my friends and bore them with my poetry.

“It’s quite calming. If I’m really stressed I sit down, get a pen out and jot a few verses out just to wind down.”

In 2004, Robina sent some lyrics to Raja Kashif, a popular UK-based Pakistani singer and presenter for Asian Star Radio.

They met in London and Kashif agreed to record her song, called Main Kaise Mohabbat Ka (How can I express my love for you?), with Bollywood singer Alka Yagnik in India.

His album, Haseen Raatein, was released in the UK, India and Pakistan in 2005.

Kashif’s next album will come out in October, which includes another song written by Robina - a duet with Adnan Sami Khan called Teray bina Lagay na.

Robina, from north Watford, said it was a “dream come true” when Kashif agreed to record her song.

“It was just amazing. When the song was completed, I couldn’t believe it was my song that was being performed. I’ve still got a lot of learning to do but I feel like I’ve achieved what I wanted to do.”

The nurse, who has worked at Watford General for 17 months, hopes to continue songwriting and would like to bring poetry to a new audience by publishing an anthology of her work in English and Urdu.

She said: “I just really enjoy it and I would like other people to get something out of it and appreciate it.”