AN EDUCATION specialist will help adults in the region struggling with basic literacy and maths to combat their fears.

Jeanette Trafford has been signed up as a North-East skills for life "learning champion" to lead a campaign to improve standards of literacy and numeracy, particularly in County Durham, which has some of the lowest rates of basic skills in the country.

CBI regional director Steve Rankin, joint chairman of the North-East Skills For Life Taskforce, said: "The skills shortage is one of the most crucial issues facing the North-East today.

"I am confident that we will be able to change lives and make a real impact on this vital issue that will bring benefits to the North-East for years to come."

The Northern Echo is backing the drive in the region to combat a lack of basic skills and part of its campaign aims to help reduce the percentage of people lacking in basic maths and English from 28 per cent to the national average of 24 per cent.

The objective is part of the Echo's Working for a Future campaign to help the North-East recover from the manufacturing crisis.

Ms Trafford has joined the Get On North East campaign to combat illiteracy and poor maths among an estimated 400,000 adults across the region who have difficulties with basic skills.

She will focus on improving standards particularly in County Durham, and will promote the wide range of free skills for life courses in reading, writing and maths available at centres across the region.

Courses can either be taken in one of the centres or over the Internet.