The Northern Echo's free community web site scheme got off to a flying start when it went live for the first time yesterday.

CommuniGate is a scheme which allows non-profit making groups the chance to set up their own sites for free.

South Darlington Credit Union has now gone on-line. The union is managed and run by volunteers, to give people in low income brackets access to financial services.

Marjory Knowles said the union had been looking to go online for some time and CommuniGate provided the perfect opportunity.

She said: "This is a means of letting people know that the credit union exists and where we can be contacted. It can also let people know what a credit union is, what we are doing and why we are here."

For more information on the credit union, visit their site at http//www.communigate.co.uk/ne/southdarlingtoncreditunion

It took Marjory just one hour to create four pages. She said: "I think anybody who is not fully computer literate would be able to pick it up because it is very user friendly."

Alison Nicholson, community web editor in charge of the project, said there had already been more than 3,000 page impressions on the site.

She said: "We've had a very enthusiastic response and I'm quite prepared to give one-to-one help to anybody who's not confident, to go in and try."

If you are part of a non-profit making organisation and would like to join the CommuniGate scheme, simply visit www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk and click through CommuniGate.

You can also call Alison on (01325) 381313, or by email at communitynen.co.uk