MIDDLETON ST George residents will soon be able to go online at an information technology centre in the Women's Institute building.

On Monday, the parish council agreed pay the running costs to get the free service up and running.

Coun Doris Jones said she had been trying to get IT facilities in the village for two years.

Now, thanks to Darlington Borough Council, there was sufficient money to provide and install them and the WI hut had been identified as a suitable location.

But the grant did not pay the rental of the hall, estimated at £1,000 a year.

The service was for anyone who did not have a computer at home - students surfing the net for their homework or pensioners keen to learn to use a computer for the first time. Tuition would be provided.

It was agreed to pay for the rental on a monthly basis, while assessing how popular the service proved to be