APROJECT involving students and pensioners is proving that there is a lot of truth in the adage that you are never too old to learn.

Pensioners are currently spending one afternoon a fortnight learning about technology from students at Turton High School Media Arts College, in a partnership with Age Concern.

About 18 elderly people from the Bromley Cross, Turton and Dunscar areas have been learning how to use computers, make movies, use clip art and edit videos in the school's media suites -- in between plenty of cups of tea.

The elderly visitors are now adept at emailing relatives in far-flung parts of the globe and future lessons are planned in which youngsters will teach them how to use mobile phones, including the art of text messaging.

Before the lessons began, many of the elderly people admitted to being baffled by technology but have been amazed at how easily they have got to grips with the digital age.

The pensioners who go to the project are housebound, mostly being in their 80s and 90s. Coming to the school has broadened their social life, helping them to meet not just other people in similar circumstances, but younger people as well.

And it has also been a learning experience for the sixth formers.

There have been some activities such as embroidery, where pensioners have turned teacher to demonstrate their own skills and experience.

There have been discussions on local history at which older people have delighted the pupils with stories of life in the area when they were young.

The cross-generational working also fits with the college's complementary studies for pupils in a very hands-on and proactive way. The students who help out are primarily considering careers in medicine or nursing, so the project is a good experience for them.

At some sessions, pupils have entertained the older people by demonstrating their musical accomplishments by playing violin or other instruments.

Jane Sweetlove, advanced skills teacher in media, said: "Some of them have got relatives in South Africa or Australia so they have been learning how to use email.

"We have set up a post box for them here at the school so they can check their messages. It's given them so much pleasure.

"They've been looking on websites when they have booked holidays to find out about the hotels they were going to be staying in and at photographs of what the area is like.

"We've even made Christmas cards using clip art on the computers, a useful item which they can send to their relatives.

"I think this has taught the pupils that even if you are 80 or 90, you do not feel any different on the inside.

"The students and older people work together on a one-on-one basis, sharing a computer screen so they really do get the chance to build up good relationships." Student Neerajan Sivarajah, aged 17, said: "I do get a lot of satisfaction from helping out and explaining things to the older people. When I am older, I know that I would like to be treated in the same way.

"We are currently working on a camcorder film that was taken here during one of the sessions and we are editing it on the computer, taking out the parts we don't want, and leaving the good stuff in. We can even add sound."

Jean Catterall, of Darwen Road, aged 79, said coming to the school had been a real eye-opener.

"The youngsters are really lovely. They are so keen and good to us. The young people are wonderful and I cannot speak too highly of them. You read so many bad reports in newspapers about young people but coming here has shown me that there are a lot of young people who are absolutely lovely.

"I'm learning how to use internet messages. I've got a daughter who lives in Portsmouth and I send them to her.

"I used to work in the cotton mills in Eagley and I've been telling the youngsters some tales about what that was like. I like coming here so much I've even given up going to one of the lunch clubs I used to go to."

Sylvia Jones, of Age Concern, said: "It breaks down barriers between young and old people."