WOULD be researchers, keen to dig into their domestic roots, will be given a helping hand on new family history courses staged next month.

Tips and advice to assist the researching of family trees for beginners will be offered on simultaneous three weekly sessions staged at the Durham County Record Office.

Run by staff at the office at County Hall, Durham, the popular sessions are led by an expert archivist.

They offer an introduction to the extensive sources available at the office.

Dawn Layland, an education and outreach archivist within the department, said: “Our family history courses offer the chance to get started on your family tree, and find out about the fantastic resources available on your doorstep.”

One course takes place on evenings and the other during daytime working hours.

They are on Tuesday, between 6 and 8pm, on September 12, 19 and 26, or on Thursday, from 10am to 12-noon, on September 14, 21 and 28.

The course cost is £30, which covers all three sessions.

But, places must be booked in advance, by calling the record office, on (03000) 267626.