Mrs Glover praised the care home for helping her continue her hobby

Greta Glover feared her life-long interest in birdspotting would have to end after a stroke forced her to leave her home and affected her mobility.

However, staff at Cargenholm House near Dumfries installed birdbaths and feed boxes around the 87-year-old's window.

Mrs Glover also helped the home devise a system to place a camera inside the box and transmit images to her TV set.

Mirrors have been positioned around Mrs Glover's window to allow greater visibility with her binoculars and digital camera.

I think I've educated them in a few technology matters when it came to setting up the cameras Greta Glover

She also has a laptop in her bedroom to download her digital pictures.

Now a second satellite camera is being fixed at another bird box further away to provide other images.

Joyce Redpath, administrator at Cargenholm, said: "We want our residents to be as independent as possible and so when we learned about Greta's interest in birds we were determined to try to help her continue her hobby.

"In fact Greta herself had lots of ideas of how we could ensure she kept up her birdwatching hobby and we've been delighted to do what we can to implement these."

Best example

Mrs Glover, from Thornhill, said: "I was determined not to let my hobby fall by the wayside and so I came up with a number of ideas on how the home could let me continue.

"They have been very good in the help they've offered - although I think I've surprised and educated them in a few technology matters when it came to setting up the cameras."

Cargenholm House looks after 54 residents requiring varying degrees of social and nursing care.

The initiative at Cargenholm came to light during a routine inspection by the Care Commission, the national body that registers and inspects care services in Scotland.

Chris Barratt, the Care Commission officer who inspected the home, said: "This is one of the best examples I have seen of a resident being supported by a care provider to maintain their interests.