Club doormen can now learn their trade in the classroom.

Gone are the days when all a doorman needed was an intimidating stare, now they can learn how to diffuse difficult situations at a specially run course, in Teesdale.

Bishop Auckland College's training centre in Middleton-in-Teesdale, Norman Richardson House, has just won accreditation from the British Institute of Innkeeping to run a course for door supervisors.

The course is the benchmark qualification for doormen, and has the support from organisations such as the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Magistrates' Association, the Justices' Clerk Society, the Security Industry Training Organisation and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

The training is expected to be in demand, as it comes ahead of anticipated Government regulations on door staff.

The first course takes place Monday, April 23 and Tuesday, April 24.

For further information contact Anne Beckett-Wise, on (01833) 641117.