HUNDREDS of students have been finding out about the support network available at Darlington College of Technology.

The new starters were invited to a special Downloading event, named after the information booklet that offers health and social care advice to young people in the town.

An array of information stalls packed the main hall at the college, manned by experts in fields including finances, general and sexual health, smoking cessation and gay issues.

Student activities manager Diane Muckle said: "Students can arrive at College with a lot of extra baggage. This event covered all the issues that relate to 16-19-year-olds to make sure they are happy and can make the most of their studies.

"We have staged this for the past two years with the help of Darlington Primary Care Trust and it has proved to be very successful indeed."