Grandmother's polite Google searches go viral

A UK grandmother has become an internet sensation after her incredibly polite Google searches went viral.

May Ashworth's unusually polite online request was captured by her grandson, Ben John, during a visit to her home. The 85-year-old from Leigh, Greater Manchester, wanted a translation of the Roman numerals MCMXCVIII and had left her laptop on.

"She saw a TV show the other day but couldn't work out from the credits when it was made, so she put the numerals into Google," John told the BBC.

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"I asked my nan why she used 'please' and 'thank you' and it seemed she thinks that there is someone - a physical person - at Google's headquarters who looks after the searches.

"She thought that by being polite and using her manners, the search would be quicker."

John explained that his nan doesn't use her laptop much: "She goes to a silver surfers' club at the local library to learn about computers and the internet, but she hardly ever uses her laptop."

John's photo has been re-tweeted more than 19,000 times - and caught the attention of one of Google's Twitter accounts.

Google UK sent "Ben's Nan" its own thank you: "In a world of billions of searches, yours made us smile.

"Oh, and it's 1998," it added in answer to Ashworth's original question. "Thank YOU".

Even Google's main Twitter account got in on the act.

Ashworth's politeness was praised across the globe, with one user declaring it a symptom of her Britishness.