Jeanette bowled over as she watches cricket match during hip operation

Nothing was going to stop Jeanette Griffin from watching her beloved cricket – not even a hip operation.

Patient Jeanette Griffin watches cricket whilst having a new hip fitted by consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Richard Spencer Jones with assistance from first surgical assistant Sister Kim Bailey and consultant anaesthetist Dr Elis Hughes

While surgeons got to work, she chose to instead concentrate on watching the latest one-day international.

The 68-year-old benefited from advances that allow hip and knee replacement surgery to be carried out under local anaesthetic.

Jeanette Griffin recuperating in the garden of her Hyssington home

It removes any dangers from a general anaesthetic and allows patients to recover far quicker.

And, for sporting nuts like Jeanette, it also brings its fringe benefits.

She was given an iPad in the operating theatre so she could catch up on the action during a game between Pakistan and South Africa.

The pensioner, from Churchstoke, admitted she had been apprehensive about remaining awake during the surgery but said she was glad she had made the decision.

"The experience was absolutely brilliant," she said. "The anaesthetists asked if there was anything I wanted to listen to and when I said a cricket match they explained they could go one better by enabling me to watch the cricket, rather than just listening through headphones.

"I feel great and I'm sure that staying awake for the operation has contributed to this."

Jeanette underwent the operation at the Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry, which has embraced the concept of carrying out more operations under local anaesthetic.

Some patients choose to listen to music as the surgeons get to work.

But with free wifi throughout the hospital, they can also take in their computer tablets to watch films or stream live TV.

In Jeanette's case the operation went so smoothly that she missed the final two overs of the game, and she is now recovering well after the surgery.

A former lecturer in electronics, Jeannette has always been an avid cricket fan and has developed a new hobby in her retirement. For her 60th birthday, eight years ago, her husband bought her a gliding course.

Now, with her new hip, the sprightly grandmother is keen to get back in the seat of the wooden K8 glider that she flies over Long Mynd with Midland Gliding Club.