NOVELIST Beryl Rushton has been inspired to write her next novel about life in an East Lancashire hospital as a thank-you to staff who she claims saved her life.

Beryl, 58, from Huncoat, who writes under the name of A Lancslas, believes she is lucky to be alive after contracting viral gastroenteritis.

And she has already started writing the fictional novel "Deadly Virus" after spending six weeks at Accrington Victoria Hospital, Blackburn Infirmary and Queen's Park Hospital in Blackburn.

The virus attacked everything from her eyesight to her bones, leaving her wheelchair-bound for what could be months or years.

She said: "It was very, very frightening and I am lucky to be alive, they have told me that.

"The staff there are so wonderful. I can't praise them enough. They work under such difficult conditions." Beryl, who has had two books, To Hell and Back and a book of short stories, published and has five children's books awaiting publication, said the novel would be filled with humour, despite its serious subject matter.

She started writing it when she regained consciousness at hospital and asked a nurse to write a few notes for her as her eyesight was too bad for her to write. The virus had also left her body badly impaired on one side and she has the use of only one hand.

"On Christmas Day I was rushed to Accrington Victoria Hospital. Even though the department is only open to light casualty, the doctor and staff were so concerned and sympathetic they placed me on a bed straight away and put an intravenous drip on my hand straight away before asking any questions.

"Paramedics then rushed me to a high dependency unit at Blackburn Infirmary before spending the remainder of the time on C2 ward at Queen's Park Hospital.

"Unfortunately, the virus travelled through all my major organs. I was bed-ridden for weeks with intravenous drips and antibiotics fed to me for 13 days.

"During this spell in hospital, I became very familiar with hospital routine and bureaucracy and I am indebted and owe my life to many consultants, doctors and wards staff. They truly are angels of mercy."

Blackburn-born Beryl has written to bosses of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust to thank them.

Although back home in Huncoat, Beryl has to go daily for physiotherapy and occupational therapy to rebuild her strength.

A spokesman for the Trust said: "We are delighted that Beryl is recovering and that she is writing a book about her experiences."