FREE courses are being offered by Middlesbrough Environment City (MEC) this spring at their allotments training centre to encourage people to grow their own produce.

The courses are aimed at beginners and cover all the basics of growing vegetable plants from seed and nurturing them through to a healthy harvest.

Anybody aged 19 or over can attend and the courses are delivered over two sessions, each running on a Tuesday morning from 9.30am to 12.30pm at MEC's allotments based at Town Farm on Cargo Fleet Lane.

The courses will run throughout the spring and summer and will cover a different range of seasonal veg each time.

The first sessions take place on Tuesday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 10.

The courses are funded by Middlesbrough Community Learning Service, and participants can attend more than one course if they wish, subject to demand.

To book a place on the training courses or inquire about a small allotment plot, contact Dave Scriven at MEC on 01642-243183 or email david.scriven@menvcity.org.uk