[Tutor] Newbie problem with TypeError

[Jonathan Soons]

I am completely baffled by this TypeError.
The program is 617 lines so I am just showing the relevant part.
Please help.

def newpage(words) :
    PDF_end_page(pdf)
    PDF_begin_page(pdf, WIDTH, HEIGHT)
    PDF_setfont(pdf, font0, 14)
    PDF_set_text_pos(pdf, INCH, 704)
    PDF_show(pdf, last + ", " + first)
    PDF_set_text_pos(pdf, INCH, 690)
    mklines(words)

def mklines(field) :
    if len(field) < 4 :
        return
    words = field.split(" ")
    while len(words) > 1 :
        line = ""
        list(words)                   #definitely a list
        while (len(line) < 60) and len(words) > 1 :
            line = line + " " + words[0]
            if len(words) > 0 :
                del(words[0])
        PDF_continue_text(pdf, line)
        if PDF_get_value(pdf, "texty", 0) < INCH :
            words = string.joinfields(words, " ")
            str(words)                #newpage() requires string argument
            newpage(words)
    if len(words) == 1 :
        PDF_continue_text(pdf, " " + words[0])

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "./parseapps.py", line 174, in ?
      mklines(essay)
	    File "./parseapps.py", line 50, in mklines
		    del(words[0])
			TypeError: object doesn't support item deletion