Former seaman and author Tom Robson is riding on the crest of a wave after returning to college at the age of 73.

Mr Robson, from Darlington, has found a new lease of life after learning how to use a computer.

The Trimdon Grange-born former miner left his pit village at the age of 15 and became a seaman.

He has already published two books on his life experiences, A Lad from Durham and Boy Seaman Royal Navy.

But his work was costing him hundreds of pounds to have typed professionally, prompting him to go in search of a new discipline.

"The last book cost me £800 so I went to Darlington College of Technology where I was given a lot of encouragement and they explained how I could learn about computers," he said.

Since then he has completed computer courses and bought a home PC which he uses to continue his writing.

Mr Robson uses his new skills to write short stories, prepare his scripts for public speaking events and to email friends in Hawaii, Texas, Canada and South Africa.