ANCIENT almshouses have been transported into the present thanks a to website designed to promote them.

The 300-year-old Sir William Turner's almshouses, at Kirkleatham, near Redcar, east Cleveland, may still bear a safety rule banning the placing of candles under beds, but they are now part of the age of technology, thanks to The Northern Echo's community website, Communigate.

Peter Sotheran, chairman of Kirkleatham's trustees, said it was an excellent way of advertising the almshouses' attractions.

"We had been looking for a way to let the wider world know about our beautiful building, but we did not have the technology to do it ourselves," he said.

"We still use a manual typewriter and don't have a fax in the office, so we have gone straight from the 17th to the 21st Century in one leap!"

CommuniGate web editorAlison Nicholson said the facility is ideal for places such as Kirk-leatham, which recently launched a £1.6m renovation project.

"This is a great way for groups to reach a wider audience, either to recruit new members or to publicise fundraising events," she said.

"Groups can build within CommuniGate even if they are on the Internet already."

Anyone interested in joining the the website can contact Alison Nicholson on (01325) 505270