An elderly woman who spent six months in hospital has stunned the staff by leaving £112,000 to help other patients.

Ethel Brown, who was aged 92 when she was treated two years ago in the Richardson Hospital at Barnard Castle, County Durham, made the bequest in her £500,000-plus will.

Nobody realised the frail widow was as wealthy as that when she died last September at her home in Ingleton, near Barnard Castle.

But yesterday nurses were thrilled to hear that she has left the money to the Friends of Richardson Hospital as a thank- you for the way she was looked after on Ward Two.

The matron, Dave Anderson, said yesterday: "This is a wonderful gesture which will benefit many future patients. I have never heard of any former patient leaving a gift of this size.

"Many have given things like a box of chocolates or some flowers, but this amount of money will buy a host of amenities which will make life much more comfortable for everyone treated here."

Mrs Brown had lived alone for many years since the death of her husband, Alec, who sold animal feeds. She left other sums to relatives in Lincolnshire, where she was brought up as the oldest of 11 children.

A neighbour, Diana Wilks, said yesterday: "When I and other neighbours did shopping for Mrs Brown she always insisted on us buying as cheaply as possibly. She was always careful with her money.

"I realised she was fairly well off, but everyone was surprised when she left over half a million. That was apart from money from her house, which has been sold for over £250,000."

She insisted on being called Mrs Brown by everyone, rather than by her first name.

The Reverend David Elleanor, who conducted her funeral, referred to her as Ethel during the service, and said he had never dared call her that while she was alive.

On a card above her hospital bed, showing how she would like to be known by staff, she insisted on "Mrs Brown" rather than first names given by other patients.