EARLIER this week local community computer centres in East Cleveland and Gateshead were given grants of more than £250,000 from the National Lottery by the New Opportunities Fund as part of a £200m scheme to bring computers to communities.

Redcar and Cleveland College has been given £30,000 from the fund for a project that provides short courses, tasters and general computer training in disadvantaged communities throughout East Cleveland.

A mobile unit with 20 laptop computers will visit villages in the region, lending out the computers on a short-term basis so that people can learn at their own pace with the help of trained assistants.

Glenn Preedy, European funding manager at the college, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for communities living in disadvantaged rural areas and for people with disabilities to get involved with an innovative IT project.

"Here they can learn at their own pace, at home, without the pressure of having to gain a qualification."

The Gateshead Lifelong Learning Partnership received more than £230,000 to set up a project which will provide training at centres throughout Gateshead as well as at the Baltic Arts Centre and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Kim Davies, deputy principal at Gateshead College, said: "This will help people to get the skills they need at work and in their family and social lives."