FOUR years ago Jeff Brown's life fell apart when, aged just 47, he suffered a devastating stroke which left him paralysed down his left-hand side.

The father-of-three had always been health conscious after suffering a brain haemorrhage when he was 22-years-old which led to him developing epilepsy.

Mr Brown, a former service engineer, is tee-total.

He had returned to his Great Lever home after working in London when he first began feeling unwell in January, 2006.

The following day he thought he had had an epileptic seizure as he could not move his left arm. He was rushed to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Tests revealed he had suffered a stroke and he remained in hospital for the next 10 days.

But after he returned home, depression set in as he was unable to return to normal life because of his disability.

Mr Brown, of Woodgate Street, said: "I used to love mountain biking and swimming but obviously since the stroke I've been unable to do any of those things because I've only regained 50 per cent use of my left-hand side. I'd always kept fit and healthy, playing football and other sport, so it was a really big blow."

The lack of exercise and the fact he was forced to give up his job meant Mr Brown's weight ballooned and he was left feeling increasingly depressed by his circumstances.

He said: "My wife Elaine has been incredibly supportive but there have been times when I've been really low."

Mr Brown was thrown a lifeline in December last year when he went to visit his local health trainer at his GP's practice.

After having a health check it was revealed his cholesterol was dangerously high, raising his risk of having another stroke or developing heart disease, and since then he has completely transformed his life.

Not only that, but talking to his health trainer has helped lift his depression and he has returned to physiotherapy.

Mr Brown, now aged 49, said: "Talking to my health trainer has been really amazing. I have made so many lifestyle changes. I used to reach for the biscuit tin and eat far too many chips, but now I love salad and jacket potatoes. I feel so much better."

He is now using his own experience to urge as many people as possible to take part in the BIG Bolton Health Check.

"People have absolutely nothing to lose," he said. "It can only be a positive thing. Going to see your health trainer really isn't anything to be worried about. The health checks weren't available to me but I would definitely have had one and who knows what would have happened."

Mr Brown added: "That said, finding out about my cholesterol has forced me to make some big life changes - all for the better - and my health trainer really has given me a new lease of life."