A VILLAGE near Darlington has won a two-year campaign to get online.

Residents of Middleton St George can now learn computer skills for free in the Women's Institute hut.

The computer centre was due to open several months ago but it was delayed by a fire at the village primary school, which was to provide a broadband connection.

Councillor Doris Jones, who opened the centre, said: "We applied for it a long time ago but didn't expect to get it as we are never very successful with things like that because we are not a deprived area.

"This time the fact that we are isolated out here has obviously been taken into consideration and we were successful. Then the school fire delayed the whole thing by months.

"It has taken two years to get it so I am delighted it has finally opened."

The project is a joint scheme with Darlington Learning Partnership and the UK Online project teams at Darlington College of Technology and Darlington Borough Council.

The teams developed a community partnership with Middleton St George Women's Institute, the primary school and the parish council.

Maureen Crawford, 88, who had never used a computer before, said: "I find it all fascinating and am often on the computer for hours."