A NEW course has been devised to help smooth the way for web surfers seeking census information.

Starting at Durham County Council's Clayport Library tomorrow, the course will show people how to get the best out of their access to the census when tracing their family history.

Led by local genealogy tutor Anne Hinchcliffe, from New College, the course will cover the censuses of 1881, 1901 and the IGI Mormon Index.

Although the 1881 census is freely available, the 1901 census has only recently become available and is accessed through vouchers that can be bought at the library or paid for online.

Ms Hinchcliffe said: "This course will show people how to get the best out of their census access and make the most of their online time.

"People will be able to find out if their ancestors lived in the workhouse or the asylum."

The course will also take in the changes of the landscape.

Ms Hinchliffe said: "We'll also be looking into the missing villages, places that are no longer on the map either because they have dwindled away or been lost to a reservoir. Evidence might still be available via the census."

The course starts on Tuesday, September 21, from 7pm to 9pm. Clayport Library also runs a range of courses in family history, the internet, IT, languages, traditional mat and rug making and more.

For further information, call 0191-386 4003.