A £200,000 scheme to improve computer skills is helping people regenerate their communities.
The Tees Valley Communities Technologies project, backed by £97,000 of European funding, will help people in Middlesbrough and Redcar improve their IT skills.
It is thought that, with better computer skills, people will be able to enhance their communities by using online newspapers, radio stations and arts projects.
The project, which includes £98,000 from the University of Teesside, is part of a Government push to eradicate computer illiteracy.
Residents' groups have also had the chance to visualise what their estates will look like at the university's new Virtual Reality Centre.
The centre, which received more than £4m from Europe, allows residents to control the design of developments in their area.
Project manager Steve Thompson said: "Many people feel intimidated by the idea of using computers and the Internet, but our project helps people to overcome this.
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