KEVIN Mintram has a zest for life.

Remarkably it has never faltered, despite having to cope with a number of learning difficulties and battling serious health problems.

Having recently recovered from a life-threatening operation, he is now back on form and wasted no time getting back to the past time he enjoys the most - bellringing.

For the past 30 years Kevin, 44, of South East Road, Sholing, Southampton, has been bellringing in a unique way as his learning disabilities mean he uses names not numbers to ring out a sequence.

He said: "I am the only person I know of who rings in this way. Basically it is something that I have worked out, so that I am able to do the bell-ringing because I enjoy it so much."

This year Kevin is even taking part in a bell-ringing tour around West Sussex visiting dozens of churches, something he hasn't been able to do in previous years due to ill-health.

Now he wants others with similar problems to use his example and make the most of life.

He said: "I try and get on with life the best I can and take part in as much as possible. I haven't let my autism and dyslexia stand in my way to do what I want to do.

"Other people who also suffer from these things should be the same and not let their disabilities stand in their way."