A CENTRE of excellence to encourage people to use the Internet, e-mail and other new technology has been launched in Ferryhill.

The UK Online Centre, in Ferryhill Comprehensive School, is part of a nationwide initiative launched by Education Secretary David Blunkett this week.

The school put in a successsfulbid last year, with partner New College Durham, to become one of the first centres of its kind in the country. The Department for Education and Employment provided a grant of £112,000 and the New Opportunities Fund gave £75,000, which will be used on staffing the centre.

Steve Gater, headteacher of Ferryhill Comprehensive, said he was excited by the opportunities the new room provided.

He said: "The whole intention is to encourage everybody in the community to look at the facility and use it as they want.

"There is no excuse now for anybody not being on the Internet, having e-mail facilities and learning how to use them."

The suite was opened by Michael Gilbey, deputy director of the Government Office North East.

The opening coincided with the launch of the Employment Service's worktrain website, for job and learning opportunities, at Ferryhill on www.worktrain.gov.uk

The suite will be open to anyone, from 9am to 9pm on weekdays, and on Saturday mornings.

Further information is available from the school on (01740) 651554.