MOVE over Changing Rooms - people in a north Durham community are learning to master their own DIY skills.

Durham County Council's Return to Learn Centre (Education in the Community) has designed the free ten-week introduction to DIY course to encourage people living in Stanley's Green Corridor to re-enter education.

The Green Corridor Neighbourhood Partnership is providing the tools for the course, which gives people the chance to gain practical skills in tiling, plumbing and using the right tools for the job.

Those taking part leave with an accredited Level 1 introduction to DIY qualification.

Julie Harding, skills for life development worker with Return to Learn, said: "The idea of the course is to encourage people back into learning in a hands-on, practical way.

"Hopefully, the course will build people's confidence so they will feel comfortable to move on to other areas of learning.

"The learners involved in the DIY course at the moment are absolutely loving it."

Angela Fenwick, one of those taking part, said: "The course has given me the confidence to do things I wouldn't normally try."

Another free ten-week DIY course begins on Monday, April 24, from 9.30am to 12.30pm, at St Stephen's Church Hall, Hollyhill Gardens East, South Stanley.

To book a place on the course, contact Ms Harding on (01207) 230 521.