By Jane Elliott BBC News, Health reporter

Stephen turned to art after his stroke

Despite his sudden onset of ill-health, Stephen was determined to drive the huge lorry the 250 miles home, so he could then go to his local hospital.

"I phoned work and told them there was a problem. They wanted me to go to hospital there, but I just wanted to get home to Bridgend," he said.

"It might have been stupid, but I just wanted to get home.

Therapy art

"The firm phoned me every half an hour. Once I got the lorry started it was easy to move, and I asked my firm to send someone to the hospital car park to help me out of the cab.

"I drove right up to the hospital and they told me I had had a stroke.

I drove right up to the hospital and they told me I had a stroke Stephen Morgan

"I knew there was something drastically wrong."

Stephen, now aged 50, spent about five weeks recuperating, but the arterial disease which caused his stroke had also damaged his arteries in his legs.

He had to have one leg amputated - and may still lose the second.

Unable to work again, he turned to art to keep himself motivated.

His work - a comical look at his home town - is proving popular locally and sales are helping to raise cash for the local Stroke Association.

"My firm did try to get me an adapted lorry, but I couldn't get in and out of the cab," he said.

Stephen's art is popular in his home town

"I had always doodled, sometimes it was the only thing to do when you were stuck somewhere waiting for a load.

"But after my stroke I took it up seriously. Everybody wanted one of the pictures. I paint them in vivid colours of Bridgend."

Stephen, who had his stroke seven years ago, has won an art award from the Stroke Association for his work.

Award winner

Karyl Carter, who works at Positive Action for Stroke, which helps stroke survivors like Stephen back into community life, nominated him for the award.

"Stephen is a man who has shown exceptional strength and courage," she said.

Few know he is an amputee and likely to lose his remaining leg. His work is inspirational.

"I am so pleased his spirits have been lifted since he started his art work at the Positive Action group."

A spokesman for the Stroke Association stressed that driving whilst ill is not recommended: "Stephen was remarkably brave when he had his stroke.

"But whilst Stephen successfully managed to drive to hospital following his stroke, we would not advise people to drive in this situation."

Dr Martin James, a medical expert for the association, praised Stephen's resilience since his stroke.

He said: 'What Stephen has achieved is amazing, in overcoming the disabling effects of a stroke and in revealing his new-found artistic talent and expression.

"We know that the disabling effects of a stroke can be serious and life-changing for many thousands of people in the UK each year, and Stephen's experience is a reminder and an inspiration to all of us working with stroke victims to look for the potential to help improve their life after stroke, even in unexpected but not unheard of ways like this.

"Stephen's medical condition means there are still serious challenges ahead for him, but the positive approach he has had since his stroke is crucial to making the best out of life after stroke."

Stroke is the leading cause of severe disability in the UK, affecting an estimated 150,000 people each year.