Cooking a Sunday lunch or whisking up a batch of cakes is part of Janet Mertz's everyday life – thanks to the support of a volunteer service.

Trained nurse Mrs Mertz, 79, suffered a massive stroke five years ago and spent six months in the then stroke unit at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital.

Although she recovered enough to return to her Markfield home, her left arm and leg were paralysed.

Then the Stroke Association arranged for one of its volunteers to visit Mrs Mertz.

That meeting was the first of many by volunteer Pauline Edwards, whose words of wisdom helped give Mrs Mertz the determination to regain her independence.

Mrs Mertz spoke of her experiences to back a call by the Stroke Association for more volunteers.

"Even though I was a trained nurse, I was worried about having another stroke," she said.

"Pauline came a few times a month to talk, and told me about what various people were doing. It got me wanting to do things for myself again."

She now does all her own cooking, and because of her paralysis resourceful Mrs Mertz has had to devise her own way of getting the roast out of the cooker one-handed.

"I sit in a chair, have a plate at the ready, and with a fork manage to stab the roast out of the cooker on to a waiting plate," she said.

Mrs Mertz also does her own washing, ironing and cleaning.

"It was all down to Pauline, who made me determined to get on," she added. "I couldn't have done without her help, support and encouragement."

Mrs Edwards, 62, from Queniborough, decided to become a Stroke Association volunteer about five years ago, after she suffered a transient ischaemic attack, also known as a TIA or mini stroke.

She said: "After my TIA I realised how easy it is to feel isolated, depressed – all sort of things – and I wanted to help others who might be feeling the same and help to bring a different perspective to their lives.

"I really encourage people to come forward and volunteer."

She said Mrs Mertz was her first "client".

"I was very nervous, but Janet and I are good friends now. She is an inspirational person and an amazing cook and we swap recipes."

The Stroke Association is appealing for more volunteers to help with visiting some of the 350 people on its books across Leicestershire and with its new communication group.

Dolores Watters, a Stroke Association family and carer support co-ordinator, based at Leicester General Hospital, said: "Our volunteers support stroke survivors and their families by providing information.

"They help with our new communication group which is going to make an enormous difference to those affected by aphasia – communication difficulties – following a stroke."

For information about volunteering call Pooja Popat on 07515 596904 or Dolores Watters on 07538 795269.