THERE was a double reason for the Access IT Centre in Hartlepool to celebrate as it marked its first anniversary with its second graduation ceremony.

More than 100 students from the centre, which offers free tuition in using a computer and its packages, were presented with certificates for their achievement earlier this month at a graduation evening.

The evening marked the end of a successful first year for the Park Road centre, which has seen 1,400 students enrol on City and Guilds Start IT courses.

The courses give a basic introduction to computers and computing, and have proved popular with people in the town, with participants aged from 18 to 91 enrolling.

The centre opened in May last year and is a partnership between Hartlepool College of Further Education and national training provider Tektra. It is open from 9am to 9pm, Monday to Thursday and 9am to 5pm Friday to Saturday.

For further information call the centre on (01429) 279703