A BUSY working mother who found time to take up her first computer course became a college learning centre's 3,000th student.

Louise Northgreaves, who has three children and lives in Bishop Auckland, is taking a City and Guilds Start IT course at Bishop Auckland College's Newgate Community Learning Centre.

She went to an open day to please her sister Linda Chappell and decided to enrol when she realised the centre was open at times when she was free.

She said: "It is ideal for me because I can study, work, and look after my children.

"This is the first IT course I have done and I am really enjoying it. Hopefully, it will lead to higher level courses in the future."

Supervisor Michelle Postma presented Ms North-greaves with a bouquet.

She said: "The centre opened in 1999 and since then we have helped many people in this area get to grips with using a computer to enable them to gain employment, help their children with their homework or simply be cable to keep up to date with technology."

The centre is open on Monday to Wednesday from 9am to 8pm, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 4pm and on Saturday from 9am to 1pm.