CHILDREN in eastern Europe can start out on the information super highway thanks to a North-East university.

Old computers from Sunderland University were yesterday passed to a police charity to go to Romania later in the year.

University Chancellor, film director Lord Puttnam, handed over 100 used computers, which will go to secondary and primary schools in Romania.

The equipment, despite being in working order, is considered to be no longer of high enough specification to run the modern software used by the university.

But it will provide an introduction to help Romanian children become IT literate.

Lord Puttnam was joined at the presentation by university honorary graduate Margaret Barbour, of the North-East wax jacket company, who has donated clothing to previous Romanian aid shipments.

Both Mrs Barbour and husband David Ash support Newcastle Police Aidy, set up by former Northumbria Chief Constable Sir John Stevens and Inspector Robbie Burns.

Insp Burns and present Chief Constable Crispian Strachan were on hand to receive the computers at the university's St Peter's Campus.

Lord Puttnam said he was delighted the university could help to "make a difference" to the lives of young Romanians.

"What I love about this is that the university is working with the police and a charity to find a really good use with these computers, to give children in Romania real exposure to computer techniques. It gives them a real future."

Insp Burns said: "When I think of the kids out there, in this age of technology, getting stuck in, in front of these computers, it will be tremendous.