COLLEGE tutors in Tyne and Wear are being offered cash help to buy their own computers.

Full and part-time staff at the area's six further education (FE) institutions can claim half the cost of a PC up to a maximum of £500.

The total of £40,000 available from the area's Learning and Skills Council is coming from the Government's Computers for FE Teachers initiative.

The aim is to raise standards in colleges by helping teachers own a computer and improve their information technology skills.

Learning and Skills Council executive director Chris Roberts said: "Personal access to a computer has been shown to raise competence and confidence in teachers' use of IT, so we are urging teachers at local FE colleges to apply for the subsidy and take advantage of the new funds available.

"We believe the new initiative will give FE teachers greater access to information and teaching materials available on the Internet, help them develop their IT skills and ultimately benefit the teaching and learning process.''

Tynemouth College principal Roy Bailey, chairman of the G6 consortium that represents the area's six colleges, said: "This initiative provides local colleges with a new opportunity to secure extra funding which they can use to invest in their teaching staff."

The scheme runs until December 21.