AN east Durham teenager's computer skills are helping bring some home comforts to a women's refuge.

When Anthony Ottowell, 14, learnt how families fleeing domestic violence rarely have time to take personal possessions he decided to help.

Anthony's father, Peter, who works for a company which manages a refuge, told his son people often arrive there with just the clothes they had on.

Computer enthusiast Anthony, who is a year ten student at Shotton Hall School in Peterlee, realised many young people would not have access to a personal computer.

He wasgiven a redundant school personal computer, and repaired its processor chip, updated its intranet card boosting its modem and memory and donated it to the Durham Refuge.

Refuge worker Dot said: "This is wonderful. We have a girl aged 15 staying with us who has difficulty completing school assignments without her computer, which she had to leave. This will be great for her to keep ahead in preparing for examinations this year.''

Headteacher at Shotton Hall, Ian Mowbray said: "This is a wonderful example of how caring, thoughtful and enterprising young people can be. I am very, very proud of Anthony's achievement.''

I am incredibly impressed by Anthony's wonderful endeavour.