A Cheddar gran has proved doctors wrong and "cheated the clock" after being told she had three years to live.

Jean Millard was diagnosed with a form of incurable lung scarring in 2004 and told she only had three years to live.

But five years later she is still enjoying life and praised the day service of Weston Hospicecare.

The 68-year-old said: "When I was told I had fibrosing alveolitis I was very upset and went to the psychiatrist because I would not accept it. I couldn't accept I was going to die this early.

"After all the crying I just thought I must get on with my life. My children don't want to see me like this. Southmead Hospital in Bristol sent me to the hospice. It stopped me thinking about death.

"I feel I have had this illness a long, long time. I cope."

The retired home helper moved to Cheddar from Bristol with her husband Richard, 69, about 10 years ago and said she's sorry she didn't move to the village before.

She is wheelchair bound and cared for by her husband. But she has been going to the day hospice unit one day a week for the past five years to give him a break while she enjoys the physical activity and chats there.

It is not known what causes fibrosing alveolitis, also known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. But experts know that it is not an infection, nor cancer or cystic fibrosis, and can not be caught from others.

The illness causes breathlessness, particularly during exercise, but aside from steroids little can be done to treat the scarring.

Motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel died after a three-year bout with the illness at the age of 69 in 2007.

Weston Hospicecare is celebrating its 20th anniversary and has launched a major new appeal for £160,000 to help with the cost of providing care in patients' homes, and at the 10 bed inpatient unit at the hospice.

If you can help the hospice raise funds by doing just one thing, whether it's holding a coffee morning or abseiling down Cheddar Gorge, call 01934 423960 or email: info@westonhospicecare.org.uk.