Internet sessions for the over 50s are proving a runaway success for the Middlesbrough Gazette.

Since July 2000, the Evening Gazette's Newspapers in Education team hasbeen running training courses to bring the benefits of the Internet to peopleaged 50+ in the local community.

The team runs a series of regular Internet sessions - the Silver Surfers being just one of them.

There is also a Computots course for toddlers, who attend with their parent or guardian, and others for new beginners and schoolchildren.

Courses are advertised in the Gazette and the Herald & Post series and are always fully booked within days.

Visitors take their classes in the Community Classroom at one of the Gazette's offices, which boasts state-of-the-art equipment with software, scanners, digital cameras, colour printers and internet access on all 16 PCs.

The latest courses, taking place in the next two weeks, are "women only" sessions.

Newspapers in education manager Victoria Coulson said: "We're offering fun, friendly and informal tuition aimed at building computer confidence, at a time to suit women and their family.

"It is a chance to find out what the internet has to offer - without the children bugging you to move over and let them play their computer games!

"There will be the opportunity to try out a range of interesting web sites and internet facilities designed to make life easier."

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