A PENSIONER with only a third of a lung has spoken of how singing has transformed her life.

Janet Swift never dreamt she would be able to belt out numbers with a community choir.

But now the 72-year-old is an established member of six-ensemble Rock Up and Sing! and has performed at home and overseas.

Mrs Swift, of Windgate, Silsden, was diagnosed with bronchiectasis 31 years ago after suffering frequent chest infections and pneumonia.

As the condition worsened, surgeons removed her right lung in 1989 and then four years later, two-thirds of her remaining lung.

“I had whooping cough as a baby and doctors believe that’s why I developed bronchiectasis,” said Mrs Swift, who with husband Robert recently moved from Riddlesden, where they had lived for more than 40 years.

Choir director Rhiannon Gayle said she was delighted at how the singing had helped Mrs Swift.

“There is a lot of evidence about what singing does for people – from regulating the heartbeat to increasing lung function,” she said.

Rock Up and Sing! is staging an open rehearsal evening at Skipton Girls’ High School on Monday. Anyone interested in attending should e-mail cath@rockupandsing.com or call 01423 508500.