A CAMPAIGN is under way in Teesdale to help adults improve their reading and writing skills.

The Leap Adult Education Centre, in Barnard Castle, is encouraging people in the dale to take advantage of basic literacy and numeracy tuition to improve their job prospects.

Last year, more than 1,000 adults attended classes at the centre to brush up on their English and mathematics, with many gaining vital qualifications.

As well as offering free reading and writing tuition, visitors to the centre can sign up for basic wordprocessing courses.

Staff at Leap can run tests to find out if visitors suffer from dyslexia. The centre has a specialist unit to help dyslexic students improve their literacy skills.

A spokesman for the centre said: "One of the reasons people do so well in Leap is that everyone works to their own individual plan of work, at their own pace and with their own tutor.

"There are no worries about keeping up with other people in the class because everybody is working individually.

"We help people of all ages. This year our oldest student is over 80 and our youngest is 15.

"Some people come to Leap who can hardly read and write at all. We can help them to start from scratch, or just brush up on their reading and writing or maths skills.

"A recent Government report estimated that one-in-five people have some difficulty reading, spelling or writing."

There are also Leap centres in Newton Aycliffe, Shildon and Ferryhill, which need tutor volunteers. Tutors are given training and many of the centres' 60 paid tutors started as volunteers.

To sign up for a course or to find out more about becoming a volunteer tutor, call the centre, in Galgate, Barnard Castle, on (01833) 690281, or (01833) 690567.