A COMPUTER scheme has won a grant from the Government to increase its work in the community.

The community partnership scheme in east Cleveland has won a £293,000 grant from the Government's New Opportunities Fund, to establish a network of more than 40 local learning centres and an additional £150,000 from the Department for Education and Employment to provide computers and Internet facilities.

"It's really exciting to have our efforts rewarded in this way," said Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's director of education Patrick Scott, who also chairs the district's Local Learning Partnership.

The centres are to encourage residents to use the latest computer technology.

The grant money will be spread over four learning centres at Whale Hill, Eston, Saltburn, Skelton and South Bank.

Mr Scott said: "This project is all about partnership between IT training providers of all different shapes and sizes in the public and voluntary sectors.

"By putting the needs of learners first, we have found a way to keep everybody moving forward together."