A HOME Independence Shop will be opened in a Newton Aycliffe care centre next weekend.

The shop, in The Pioneering Care Centre, will offer for sale a variety of goods that promote independent living, ranging from bathing aids to personal care.

The unveiling will be held from 11am to 1pm on Saturday.

Carol Briggs, chairwoman of the Pioneering Care Partnership, said: "As a wheelchair-user myself, I find the Home Independence Shop service extremely useful.

"Until now the only option for purchasing items like bath aids was to use mail order catalogues, which could prove expensive with packaging and postage.

"Now you can just go into a Home Independence Shop and actually have a choice."

The shop's opening times will be 10am to 1pm Monday to Friday.

For more information about the service contact Pauline Honeyman on (01325) 327467, or by minicom on (01325) 313133.

If it is more convenient, there is another Home Independence Shop at the Barnfield Day Centre, in Spennymoor. Details of that facility can be obtained from the same telephone and minicom numbers.

l The centre is also offering a series of courses as part of its Learning In The Community programme.

From next month, courses in healthy eating awareness, family history, sign language, beginner Spanish, and an introduction to counselling will be available at the Pioneering Care Centre.

Places are limited for each course so early booking is recommended.

For more details about the courses and how to enrol, contact Gill Macnab on (01325) 321234, fax (01325) 301129 or minicom (01325) 313133.