Teenagers who attend a writing group run by Durham County Council’s Clayport Library are helping a local nursing home’s own reading group.

Not only do they write for the older people but they also go to Hallgarth Nursing Home to read to them.

The Hallgarth Reading Group, run by James Freeley, is part of an initiative by Southern Cross Health Care, to determine the benefits of reading to people who have associated memory problems.

And a specially created competition for the best writing judged by Hallgarth residents has been won by Caitriona Ryan of Durham City.

Frank Donnelly, who leads the group at Clayport Library, said: "Our partnership with the nursing home means the young people have a real purpose to their writing and are learning to write to deadlines.

"Their work is also helping the older people with their recollection especially as they can put a face to the name of the young person reading to them."