Stockton and District Advice and Information Service is to offer refugees the chance to train as advice workers.

The course starts this month. Refugees will receive a few hours training a week.

Trainees do not need any formal qualifications, although good numeracy and a decent standard of English are an advantage.

One Kenyan woman who is taking part in the course said: "This is possibly the only training anyone can get that covers all matters that affect our daily lives."

For details, call the service on (01642) 676691.