AROUND 1,000 local residents will soon be able to go to college free - in their local community centre.

The enterprising courses include opportunities for women in engineering, an introduction to the world of virtual reality and catering.

Halton College has just won more than £100,000 cash from Europe to extend its community programme.

Altogether, they applied for five bids for funding, all aimed at attracting people who would normally be reluctant to come into college to study.

Catherine Vines, who prepared the bids for funding at the college, said:"It is our job to take the training to the people, traditionally in community centres, and these funds should benefit some 1,000 local Halton residents."

More information about these courses is available from the welcome centre at Halton College in Kingsway, Widnes tel 0151-495 3315.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.