UK Online centres multiply

Another 1,116 UK Online centres are to be added to the government's growing tally by the end of the year.

The additional centres, offering computer training and access to the internet, will bring the total number of centres open across the UK to 2,840. The government has pledged to open 6,000 centres by the end of next year.

Speaking in Liverpool, Education and Skills secretary Estelle Morris said the centres provide vital opportunities: "The new centres aim to attract people, who may feel technology is not for them, into an exciting new world of learning.

"With many centres based in the most deprived areas of England they provide opportunities for those in the greatest need," Morris added.

Many of the new UK Online centres based in schools, libraries and community centres are built on existing access projects, but funded with central government money have been re-branded into the UK Online scheme.