'Plant Saved My Life' - Alma Dyson

Keen gardener Alma Dyson is obviously loved by her blooms as much as she loves them - one of her plants saved her life.

The pensioner was baffled when,over a period of weeks,a breathing condition became worse and she found herself feeling increasingly lethargic.

Then she spotted her once-green gardenia plant had turned bright yellow.

Mrs Dyson knew immediately from looking at the plant why she had been so unwell - carbon monoxide poisoning.

She's spent two weeks in hospital,being treated for breathing difficulties,and her gas fire was later condemned.

Now she is giving her backing to the Department of Trade and Industry's new carbon monoxide awareness campaign.

She said "One of the problems is that not enough people know about the symptoms.My GP did not know what was wrong with me.

"It was only because I knew about the effect carbon monoxide has on plants that I worked it out - otherwise I don't think I would be here today."

Mrs Dyson began to notice her symptoms getting worse in July last year.

She also felt lethargic but her GP put it down to the hot weather,and urged Mrs Dyson to stay indoors - unwittingly contributing to her illness.

It was not until September,when she brought her tender gardenia plant indoors for the winter,that she realised what was wrong.

Her gas company told her her chimney flue was too small to carry away the waste products effectively and the problem could have been building up for years.She now has a new gas fire.

An estimated 200 people in the UK die each year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

Because the silent killer is odourless,tasteless and invisible,it is difficult to identify the problem until symptoms,which can be flu-like and include headaches,dizziness and lethargy,have begun.

The DTI is advising people to look out for warning signs,such as gas flames that burn orange instead of their normal blue,sooty stains above appliances and ensuring that boilers are serviced every year.