A FITNESS fanatic now cruelly paralysed from the neck down says he is a prisoner in his own home.

Geoff Whitwam, 45, used to be a 16-stone nightclub doorman who loved to work out - but now he can only move his neck and head.

He said: "I am a prisoner here - and no-one seems to care.

"All I need is a simple concrete ramp to get out of my front door. But I have been told I can't have one."

Mr Whitwam, of Bradley, was struck down by a rare illness, transverse myelitis, an infection of the spine which has left him unable to do anything for himself.

Since he left Beechwood Cheshire Home in Bryan Road, Edgerton, in April, 2003, he has only left his living room - which is also where he sleeps - a handful of times and has been out socially just once.

He blames a lack of help from Kirklees Council and says people have forgotten about him.

The cause of Mr Whitwam's condition has never been discovered, but he believes it was due to a flu jab he had in October, 2001.

This has never been proved, but since 1964 there have been five cases in the UK linking flu jabs and his condition.