Brighton and Hove councillor Roy Pennington had always considered himself a relatively fit and healthy man.

His work for the authority and as a member of the employment tribunal panel meant he was constantly busy.

The nature of his work meant communication and the ability to argue a case clearly and eloquently was vital.

But everything changed for Councillor Pennington in April when, unexpectedly, he suffered a major stroke.

Eight months on, Coun Pennington is progressing well and able to talk about his battle back to health.

His speech is still slow and his mobility has been affected.

But he is able to get around and health experts and friends tell him he is getting better all the time.

Coun Pennington has occasionally gone back to his old job of chairing the planning committee at Brighton and Hove City Council, although not yet any held in public.

He is grateful to fellow councillor Bob Carden, who took over as acting chairman of the committee when Coun Pennington became ill.

He said: "It is a bit difficult for me to get the right words out at the moment and I am a little slow at times.

"I feel it is important to keep on going out there and getting on with this as much as possible. I will learn more by trying hard and making mistakes rather than sitting back and taking it easy."

It had been a normal day for Coun Pennington in April when he suffered the stroke.

Although he had been feeling under the weather for a few days, he was able to get out and had gone to a car boot sale in Lewes.

He was making his way to another sale when the stroke hit him. His whole right side could not move and his left arm just was totally lifeless.

Coun Pennington said: "I managed to reach across the wheel with my other arm and pull the car into a petrol station."

He went to the cashier and tried to ask for help but his illness was worsening and his speech was badly affected.

Police were called and officers realised something was seriously wrong. Coun Pennington was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

He went through numerous scans and checks and a stroke was diagnosed.

The results of the stroke left Coun Pennington with a condition called aphasia, which means he has problems with speech and communication.

After three weeks in hospital, Coun Pennington was transferred to the Sussex Rehabilitation Centre at Shoreham Hospital in Southlands and stayed there before returning home in August.

He is now supported by a community rehabilitation team employed by South Downs Health NHS Trust.

This includes a speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and a dietitian.

One of the problems Coun Pennington is hoping to overcome is the difficulty in saying words that relate to places.

He said: "I know all the street names and places in my ward. I can visualise the road name but the word just won't come out. I have to sit and really work at it."

Coun Pennington has had a lot of support from colleagues and constituents in his Regency ward in Brighton.

He is able to answer the phone and talk to constituents and write letters, although it takes him longer.

He added: "People say I seem to be doing so much better each time they see me.

"I can't see it myself because I'm living with it every day but things are getting better all the time."