MENTAL arithmetic, computers and young children are all in a day's work for celebrity Carol Vorderman but the strain never seems to show, writes Gemma Simms. Carol, who was the first woman to be seen on Channel 4 after its launch in 1982, has become one of Britain's best loved television personalities, particularly among male viewers, many of whom consider her the perfect "thinking man's woman".

The talented 37-year-old delighted schoolchildren when she arrived at Tesco in Abingdon to launch the Tesco SchoolNet 2000 project.

The project will mean tens of thousands of children across the UK will be going on-line for the biggest schools' Internet project ever.

Carol, who is now approaching her 2,000th mathematical challenge on Countdown, the programme which launched her TV career, amazes the audience and viewers with her 'human calculator' brain. She can work out sums in her head quicker than the lexicographers look up words in their dictionary.

Carol said: "I do get on well with Richard Whiteley (Countdown presenter) and, yes, I do work out the maths in my head, although I can't do the Countdown conundrum!"

Carol, who also keeps busy with her two young children Katy, six, and Cameron, one, did A-level maths before studying engineering at Cambridge University. She was also seen recently on ITV's What Will They Think Of Next, a science series filmed on location at the Millennium Dome.

"I think the dome will be worth a trip once it is completed and I think it has had too much criticism," she said. "It will be quite impressive where the stage is because it's all on hydraulics."

As far as the Millennium computer bug goes, Carol doesn't seem overly concerned - her mother is worrying far more.

"My mum has been reading a book called Time Bomb 2000 and has bought loads of candles and oil burners just in case! There will be fall-out but I don't think it will affect PCs.

"All the systems are linked up and it's like a virus - if one bank gets it wrong, they all will."

But she said: "I think the SchoolNet 2000 is fantastic for the children and everyone will receive help in how to use the system."

Funded entirely from a £12m investment (including the Millennium Dome), 340 Internet centres, comprising computers, printers, scanners and digital cameras will be set up around the country in Tesco stores and some libraries, enabling every school child in the UK to have their own page on the website.

Teachers will be offered advice and training from 52 advisory teachers who are being recruited to support the project.

The four-term project is designed to fulfil curriculum requirements and support Government education initiatives, including the National Grid for Learning and National Year of Reading. It will run until December 1999 before going live to the nation in the Learn Zone of the Millennium Dome.

Busy with the Tesco tour and filming Countdown and What Will They Think Of Next, Carol has decided to take things easier next year.

"I don't manage to fit it all in really, so next year I'm going to have a new regime and do a little less work, although of course I will still do Countdown.

"My little boy watches Countdown but can't say 'divided by', and says 'de by de by' instead! Richard Whiteley is particularly funny and he tries to be good and proper but it only lasts for about five minutes which is really amusing," she laughed.

Carol was once in a wheelchair for an episode after damaging her tendons - but managed to stay professional and none of the viewers noticed.

"On the set, people just ignored me until I was needed! They would tip me out of my wheelchair so I could stand by the letter board when I was needed and I'd then sit back down again in it. It was really painful." SchoolNet 2000

Fully funded by Tesco

£12m investment for children and the Millennium

The world's biggest ever schools educational website

Free to every school child in the UK

340 Internet Centres in Tesco stores and some libraries around the country

Huge data resource for the nation

More than 8,500 schools already registered

Any primary, secondary or special school can register and receive free resources by calling the Tesco SchoolNet 2000 helpline on 0845 601 1423.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.