A disabled man's letter about the inspirational view from his home has won him a piece of work from a Yorkshire artist.

Alex Wood, 69, fell in love with the scenery from Heights Lane, Heckmondwike, when he first set eyes on it 33 years ago.

He even built his "upside down'' house there - so called because the bedrooms and bathroom are on the ground floor while the kitchen, lounge and dining room are on the first to make the most of the views.

And the panorama has become even more special to Mr Wood who is paralysed from the chest down and has been confined to a wheelchair since 1987 after a tumour was discovered on his spine.

He responded to a call from renowned Yorkshire artist Ashley Jackson who wanted to hear about special places he could paint for a new TV series, A Brush With Ashley, which starts today.

Mr Wood's was one of five letters picked from 650 by the artist who visited the house in Heckmondwike last July to paint the view from the balcony. A one-off, framed copy of the watercolour now hangs on a wall in Mr Wood's front room.

A former chef and tea shop owner, Mr Wood is a keen artist and taught himself to paint by holding a brush in his mouth.

He said: "I didn't think Ashley would be interested in painting from a house.

"I love the vast views from here. You can see right across to Denholme, Low Moor and Haworth Moor on a clear day.''

Mr Jackson, who is based in Holmfirth, said: "Of all the places I visited for the programme the most moving experience was at Alex's. It was the most challenging to paint and I had a wonderful time."

l The results can be seen in the next edition on YTV on Tuesday March 16 at 7.30pm.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.