BA degree for gran, 92

A Shropshire grandmother has proved age is no barrier to learning by becoming one of the oldest people in the country to graduate.

Margaret James, 92, from Whitchurch, graduated from the Open University with a BA honours degree in English Literature at a special ceremony.

The grandmother-of-three spent six years studying towards the qualification, attending a string of seminars and lectures in Shrewsbury and Telford and studying various pieces of literature at home.

The former bank clerk, who is originally from Birkenhead, said that she enjoyed the course so much she plans to take on more study later this year.

"I should very much like to do some sort of course in history," she said.

"It's all a bit in the air at the moment, because I've had trouble with my eyes recently so I have to get that fixed. I think I probably will go back in the autumn."

She added: "The other students treated me very well, I don't think there was any discrimination. I got on very well and made several friends that I still keep in touch with.

"I've always been very interested in literature, I've always been a tremendous reader from the age of about four.

"I have a great friend who is a tutor for the Open University and he persuaded me to try this out.

"I did the first year and just did it for fun, but I couldn't resist the courses that followed."