Why are bananas always bent? Liverpool-born David Jackson poses this, together with many other quirky questions, in his newly published book of poems.

Mr Jackson, 67, has suffered two strokes which left him disabled and housebound but writing poetry has comforted him and kept his spirits up.

His anthology, called The Odd Ode And A Code, features 60 poems on subjects ranging from nature to vegetables to spirituality. Mr Jackson, who lives in flats in north London run by the Jewish Blind and Physically Disabled, tells People: "Three years ago, my neighbours bought me a notebook as a present. I stared at the pages wondering what to do and I was inspired to write.

"I want to make the point to other people who are seriously ill that focusing on writing helps me stop dwelling on my problems. Writing is like a miracle for me."

Mr Jackson, who suffered his first stroke aged 30, plans to publish more of his poems with help from his brother, Maurice.