A FOOTBALL club's learning centre is launching a new education scheme within its well-established study programme.

The scheme at the Newcastle United Learning Centre comes as normal after-school programmes, which will see 300 pupils using the centre each week, resumed last night.

The initiative opens the centre's doors to schools in the Education Achievement Zone - a Government initiative to help develop standards in schools in the west end of Newcastle.

First to benefit will be Cowgate Primary School and Thomas Walling School, which have access to the centre, where new facilities were installed six weeks ago.

Centre manager Phil McBride said: "It's wonderful to see this exciting initiative extended to daytime provision."