PEOPLE living in Teesdale are being encouraged to take advantage of a scheme that will provide them with free training for a national qualification.

Teesdale Village Halls Consortium is providing the training, which is open to people in Teesdale who are aged 19 and above.

The consortium is working in partnership with national training provider The Learning Hub, which provides online learning courses through Learndirect.

The courses provided are National Tests, which lead to a qualification equivalent to a GCSE in maths and English.

Anyone interested in taking part in the training is invited to Mickleton Village Hall on Monday or Tuesday, March 26 and 27, and Cockfield Community Centre on Tuesday or Wednesday, March 27 and 28, between 10am and 7pm on each day.

For details call Ruth Denham, at Teesdale Village Halls Consortium, on 01833-696700.