A pensioner who became paralysed from the chest down has been accepted as a student artist by the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists.

Alex Wood, 71, fell ill while on holiday in Switzerland in 1978 and experienced loss of feeling in his left hand.

On returning, he was told by a consultant that he was suffering from a condition known as Syingo Myelia and had only four years to live.

After a fifth year, Mr Wood, of Heckmondwike, returned to the doctors to be told he did not have the condition, but a small tumour in his spine, which has now left him paralysed.

Mr Wood, pictured, was chosen to join the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists after being seen on television with Yorkshire painter Ashley Jackson.

"There are many people like me who paint like this," he said. "To even be considered to be a member of the association is a great privilege."

Mr Wood paints in watercolour and acrylics to take his mind off the constant pain he suffers as a result of his illness.

He paints on a variety of themes and will submit a selection of paintings to the association for a year. His work will be brought out and judged by members of the association to look at improvements made.

"Art is something which has been second nature to me," said Mr Wood.

"I was always so busy when I was working that I never really had time to do any. I always thought 'When I retire I'll start painting.'"

Mr Wood, who will help design Christmas cards and calendars for the association, said he didn't find painting with his mouth difficult to master or frustrating. Despite his condition, he said he was not bitter about his circumstances.

"I could feel bitter if I let myself, but I can't push my bad luck and disability on to other people. They've got to live with me," he said.

"It is something that's happened to me. I don't like it - it has spoiled my life - but I don't like other people to feel bitter about my unfortunate situation."

He feels, however, that his situation was brought on through mis-diagnosis by the consultant.

"The tumour could have been picked up the first time I was examined," he said. Established in 1956 by mouth painter Amulf Erich Stegmann, Mouth and Foot Painting Artists is a self-help co-operative that provides lifetime support for physically handicapped artists.

There are more than 500 mouth or foot-painting artists in over 50 countries.

Among famous past members are Christy Brown, author of My Left Foot, and Elizabeth Twistington Higgins, MBE who featured in the film The Dance Goes On.