ONE of the oldest residents at a care home has been given a new lease of life thanks to the Internet.

Dorothy Money, 91, from Moor Grange Residential Home for Older People, Spennymoor, used to communicate with her daughter Anita, who lives in Canada, by letter or phone, but her eyesight and hearing had deteriorated, making it increasingly difficult.

But now she swaps news and gossip with her daughter every week after staff at the County Durham Care home suggested she use the office computer to e-mail her.

Dorothy dictates her messages at the computer to residential supervisor Julie Watson, who types and sends them on her behalf.

Dorothy said: "It's lovely to keep in such close contact with my daughter. I was finding it very difficult to write myself because of my eyesight and when Anita rang me the line wasn't always very clear.

"But now I can get up-to-the-minute news and enjoy the pictures, photos and poems she sends.