ADULTS, especially those living in remote areas, will be given extra help with a multi-million pound learning programme.

A host of ideas are included in an education service package worth almost £5m.

More than 22,000 people are taking advantage of the many learning opportunities at 256 venues across the county and the Adult and Community Learning Plan 2003-2004 is designed to generate even more interest.

Courses on offer range from basic reading and writing skills to foreign languages.

There are also family learning programmes, courses offered to victims of domestic violence in women's refuges and mobile computer suites.

The plan aims to reach all adults, particularly those living in remote rural areas or those with learning, mobility and sensory disabilities.

"It is against this background of extreme rurality with few large towns that the challenge of providing effective services for adult learners needs to be set," said North Yorkshire County Council's executive member for education Councillor Chris Metcalfe. "The plan gives really good access to people right across the county."

The authority is also hoping to develop courses to encourage people working in the tourist industry to learn a foreign language.

The council's education officer Fran Lett said: "Just speaking a few words to tourists in their own language can make them feel welcome and make them want to come back to North Yorkshire."

The plan also envelops the Locals-on-Line initiative, in which 15 pubs across the county have been supplied with computers, providing access to courses and computing in remote areas.