TEACHERS have been given a helping hand to support children with dyslexia and reading problems.

As part of a community involvement programme, Yorkshire Electricity has given £20,000 to the Dyslexia Institute, to support literacy courses for teachers throughout Yorkshire and the North-East.

The courses address the needs of pupils in the Government's literacy hour and in general classroom work.

Teachers on the courses are provided with special equipment designed to help dyslexic pupils overcome problems with spelling and reading.

Yorkshire Electricity's community affairs manager Regen Cooper said: "When we saw that a high number of children in the region had dyslexia or reading difficulties, we decided to give our support to the Dyslexia Institute.

The next course, called, Dyslexia in the Primary Classroom, will be held in Middlesborough Town Hall on May 15. All the places have been subsidised by the Yorkshire Electricity donation.

Other courses are planned for York, Stockton and Harrogate.