A GRANDMOTHER who could not read or write until she was 62 has returned to the classroom - as a teacher.

Betty Hetherington, from White-le-Head, near Stanley, County Durham, left school at 14.

It was only when she went to Derwentside College at the age of 62 that she was diagnosed as being dyslexic and given the help that she needed to learn to read.

Since then, Mrs Hetherington has gained qualifications in English, maths, creative writing and computing.

She is now hoping that the love of learning she acquired late in life will be passed on to a new generation, after being persuaded at the age of 72 to teach youngsters in Stanley about her childhood in the 1930s.

She said: "It's lovely to be on the other side in the classroom.

"If I can help other people to learn too, that's a wonderful feeling.

"I really hope I can encourage people like me to overcome their fears because I know what it's like to feel worthless and think you can only do manual jobs."

Betty grew up in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria.

She worked on local farms, and then did domestic work at Conishead Priory before bringing up four children with her husband Herbert.

Betty, who has been signed up as teacher for an Age Concern education campaign in County Durham, is one of 26 people to receive Celebrating Success awards from Derwentside Council as part of a campaign to inspire other people in the area to better themselves.

Other winners include 17-year-old Stephen Westgarth, from Delves Lane, Consett who has developed a website for his village hall, and Bob Liddle, 56, from Stanley, who took early retirement when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis but went on to work for the Council for Voluntary Services and the Citizen's Advice Bureau.