A DEAF and blind man has been named the North-East regional winner of this year's Library Association and learndirect E-Learning Community Prize.

The prize recognises and rewards learners aged 16 or over who have used computers to learn new skills at a library or information centre and have used them to benefit their community.

Regional winner Alan Brown, 54, of Middlesbrough, is a regular visitor to the Open Technology Centre, in Stockton. As well as being deaf and blind, he has other physical disabilities, and treatment in his youth interrupted his formal education.

He only started using computers a year-and-a-half ago, but has developed his skills to such an extent that he has started a chess column in Deafblind UK's quarterly magazine, Rainbow.

The judges were impressed by Mr Brown's achievements and his commitment to future learning.

He will receive a set of vouchers which can be used at learndirect centres in 134 libraries across the country