WITH her hearing impaired and her hands crippled through multiple sclerosis, Margaret Neil was persuaded to try keyboard playing in an atempt to ease her disability.

But just ten months after striking her first note, the 52-year-old grandmother from County Durham, has passed a Royal School of Music examination with flying colours.

The achievement has amazed her family and delighted her tutor from East Durham and Houghall Community College, David Dye.

Margaret, who lives with her husband John in the Deneside area of Seaham, has suffered from MS for nearly 20 years.

Margaret enjoys attending Peterlee Day Centre where she was encouraged to take up playing the keyboard by staff who believed it would help exercise her hands.

But the new lessons not only helped with Margaret's condition but sparked a talent she never knew she had. In no time at all she was playing her favourite Andrew Lloyd Webber and Beatles numbers and counfounding those who thought she would struggle.

Progressing in leaps and bounds Margaret was soon competent enough to be entered for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Grade One exam in both the reading of music and playing and passed with merit.

Overwhelmed by her success she said: "It means a lot. It was hard work but I have enjoyed every minute and am now aiming to go on and take my Grade Two exam at Easter.

Margaret had no problem switching from a keyboard to the piano for her exam and has now noticed that playing is also proving very therapeutic with her hand coordination improving daily.

Her biggest fan is her ten-year-old grandson Anthony Watson who is now getting the odd lesson from his gran. And her tutor had nothing but praise for his remarkable student: "I think she's marvellous and an inspiration to others," said Mr Dye