DROITWICH woman Beryl Cook had a dream.

It was to travel in a Rolls Royce, visit an art exhibition, meet a real artist and have lunch in a smart restaurant.

But Miss Cook, who is disabled, never thought her dream would come true - until she won a competition run by her local housing association.

Spa Housing Association invited residents of their sheltered housing schemes, including the one in Vines Lane, Droitwich, where Miss Cook lives, to write about something they had always longed to do.

When her entry was picked as the winner, the 59-year-old found herself being whisked off to the Halcyon Gallery in Birmingham in a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce, where she met Yorkshire artist Nel Whatmore.

Miss Cook was keen to pick up tips from Nel, whose flower paintings she had admired for many years, because she is learning to paint.

Although Miss Cook is gradually losing the use of her hands, she plans to start painting by mouth instead.

The day was rounded off with a meal in Birmingham.

"It was a smashing day and I still get excited just thinking about it," Miss Cooke said.

"Now I'm going to follow Nel's advice and start painting on much bigger sheets of paper so I have more room to express myself."