MORE than 300 people in small rural communities have been given access to computers.

The Laptops in East Cleveland project was developed by Redcar and Cleveland College and funded by the New Opportunities Fund.

The project has provided 22 laptop computers for use in rural areas such as Brotton, Skelton and Lingdale.

Taster sessions, which cover a range of topics including word processing, the Internet and digital photography, are being held at community centres and schools.

Home visits are available and there are opportunities to borrow the laptops.

Organisers said the aim of the project was to target people in isolated areas of East Cleveland, particularly specific key groups such as the unemployed, over 50s, people with disabilities and those lacking in computer technology awareness.

After attending taster sessions at her local community centre, 57-year-old Marian Wheeler is now computer-literate and has progressed on to the European Computing Driving Licence course at Redcar and Cleveland College.

She said: "The Laptops in East Cleveland project presented me with an insight into computers and gave me a taste of something that I would not have otherwise tried.

"I now feel confident with my basic computer knowledge and am ready to develop my skills further."

Tracey Hart, project co-ordinator, said: "The target number of beneficiaries from our laptops scheme has been reached three months ahead of schedule."