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 e-mail friends in Hawaii, Texas, Canada and South Africa.