THOUSANDS of North-East call centre workers are being sent back to school to learn French.

Employees of the French-owned mobile phone firm Orange are going back to the classroom to help them deal with customers across the Channel.

All 1,500 staff in the customer relations department at the company's Darlington centre are to be taught conversational French in lessons organised by the town's College of Technology.

The first group of 240 staff started their training this week, and other groups from Orange centres in Peterlee and on Tyneside will make the French connection during the next couple of months.

Karen Ingham, head of the Orange Communications Centre in Darlington, said: "This is an opportunity for staff to add to their skills both for their own personal development and to use in the business environment.

"As Orange continues to expand globally, more and more opportunities may arise for staff.

"Having an additional language may well help them take advantage of new opportunities as well as help Orange to offer an improved service to customers.

"We offered all staff the opportunity to learn French and the response was phenomenal.

"The programme will be expanded gradually to those who wish to take up the opportunity."

Denise Smith, of Darlington, was one of the first Orange staff to take the plunge and start learning a new language.

She said: "It's a great opportunity to add to my skills. There is a definite business benefit as I can hold a conversation with visitors from France to make them feel more welcome and understand their needs."

Head of humanities at Darlington College Keith Wilson said: "We work closely with a number of businesses and organisations throughout the area.

"We offer flexibility in training to suit each customer's requirements."