Ref. 26765-90A TICKLE on the ear from her devoted husband helped Swindon mayoress Pam Benfield regain consciousness after she had been out cold in hospital for 12 hours.

Swindon mayor Derek Benfield feared the worst after Pam, 70, became seriously ill on Friday and was taken to Great Western Hospital after suffering convulsions.

But she is now recovering well after suffering a minor stroke and is able to sit up in her hospital bed.

Coun Benfield (Lab, Covingham and Nythe) said: "I really thought that was it when Pam was taken to hospital. It was very frightening.

"She was unconscious for 12 hours after having a major seizure.

"But now I'm over the moon. There's no discernible damage and she's able to sit up and eat her breakfast. She has full movement on her right-hand side."

Coun Benfield explained Pam had been feeling ill on Thursday evening.

"I said to her if she wanted help throughout the night I'd be there. I had a kind of premonition, but someone up there loves me.

"She woke me at 3.20am and had a huge convulsion. I was frightened and feared the worst. But the ambulance arrived within no time at all and the emergency people on the phone were so reassuring."

Coun Benfield followed the ambulance in his own car to GWH, where Pam remained unconscious until 3pm on Saturday.

He said: "I tickled her ear and said 'Pam, it's Derek.' She must have heard me because she opened her eyes and smiled at me. She was a little confused at first but now she's as right as rain."

Pam, who worked as an education supply assistant at Nythe School for 27 years, was diagnosed with diabetes 40 years ago and has been taking insulin ever since.

And in the last six years she has also fought off cancer she now has six-monthly check-ups.

Coun Benfield, who lives with Pam at Covingham Park, added: "She's been through a lot. But she's a real fighter."

Alex Emery