FREE courses to help job hunters apply for a position at a North-East train builder and improve their employability prospects are being offered.

The session will give people access to Hitachi’s online job portal and to practise the company's online application process.

Guidance on improving CVs and job applications will also be given at the event run by Hitachi and housing provider livin.

Hitachi is to make railway carriages at its 730-job Aycliffe factory, which is due to open later this year.

The first session is at Foundations, Church Street, Shildon, tomorrow (Monday, January 26) between 9.30am and 3pm.

There is one at Middlestone Moor Community Centre, on Tuesday (January 27) between 9.30am and 3pm.

The Cornforth Partnership is hosting a session from 9.30am to 3pm on Friday (January 30) and there is another at Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre between 9.30am and 3pm on Monday, February 2.

A drop-in session is being held at Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre on Saturday, January 31 between 9am and noon.

Places are limited and places are to be given on a first come first served rota so to book one contact Helen Johnson on 0800-5874-538 or email futures@livin.co.uk