A LEARNING shop where people can choose courses and training is to open in Spennymoor.

Spennymoor Learning Town, which will open in Festival Walk in autumn, aims to give people a second chance at education.

The number of young people who have left school and are out of work in Spennymoor is well-above the national average. Lifelong learning co-ordinator Helen Jeffery says tackling that problem will be one of her priorities.

"Many of them do different courses and then drop out, which gives them a bad name when they're just trying to discover what they want to do," she said.

The centre will act as an information point for anyone wanting to find training and will teach basic skills such as form filling.

Helen is now looking for sponsorship for other schemes, including a mentor system for people returning to education, a project to help young carers study, and courses to teach grandparents to educate their grandchildren.

If you can help the learning centre, contact Helen on (01388) 815065.