Great-grandmother Evelyn Bingham has such a big family, she happily ‘adopted’ one more person into the fold.  The 70-year-old of North Grove, Ryton, is kept constantly busy thanks to her eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  But she always finds time to look out for fragile next-door neighbour May Morris, 78, who was left weakened by a severe bout of pneumonia, which left her in a coma for six weeks and a tracheotomy for life.

With her only daughter living miles away in Italy, May relies on Evelyn to help her with every-day chores like cooking and washing and accompanies her shopping and to the hospital.

“She has not been in good health for about 10 years,” said Evelyn, who lives with husband Richard, 73, and enjoys spending time with daughters Pauline, 47, Christine, 43, and Linda, 40, and son Richard, 46. “If I’m ill or my husband is ill, there is always someone to look after us.

“I have got a good family around me but she has nobody for her.

“I would do it for anybody but we are very close now, and she says she has adopted me. She appreciates everything I do for her, which is lovely.”

May says she does not know how she would cope without Evelyn, who she describes as an “angel”.

May said:

“I can call her anytime day or night if I am having trouble with my tracheotomy and breathing.

“She is a lovely, helpful lady doing my washing and bringing me clean clothes when I am admitted to hospital, even taking three buses to get there. I can honestly say she is an angel and deserves some praise.”