BT is offering schools, charities, and other groups in the North-East the chance to build and maintain their own website free of charge.

The Community Website Builder, powered by ik.com, enables organisations to set up and manage their own websites without the need for any technical expertise.

More than 1,000 voluntary organisations and 5,000 schools across the UK have used the Community Website Builder to develop their own Internet sites.

It allows organisations to construct up to 250 on-screen pages of information.

It covers basics such as how to create a welcome page, news pages and a calendar and how to provide links to websites on associated issues and how to add dedicated search and inquiry facilities. BT director Adrian Hosford said: "BT is committed to bringing the benefits of 21st Century communications to everyone in the UK.

For more information log on to www. communitykit.co.uk or call 08700 112850