WEST Cheshire College is offering people the chance to become experts at surfing the net.

Recent surveys have shown that 58% of UK homes have a PC and about 47% of UK homes have Internet access.

And the number of Internet users predicted to rise to about 51% of the population by 2007.

Now West Cheshire College is urging people to enrol for a range of courses aimed at helping people develop their computer and information technology skills.

Qualifications on offer at the college - which has campuses in Chester and Ellesmere Port - include Clueless About Computers and a new package of improvers courses for those who have already completed the Clueless qualification in the past and want to further develop their skills.

Topics covered include Internet use, e-mail, word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, desktop publishing and Windows,

Qualifications which can be attained include CLAIT and CLAIT Plus (Computer Literacy and Information Technology), ECDL and ECDL Advanced and word processing workshops.

College sector manager Myra Collins said: 'We have various business and information technology courses on offer at the college to suit all needs. There is no typical student for a business and IT course. Some are school-leavers, others are people in work who want to improve on their skills and develop their careers, some are women and men who are returning to work and study after staying at home with a young family and others may be looking for a hobby in retirement or just looking for a change of direction.

'We aim to ensure the courses on offer are accessible and flexible and relevant both in the workplace and at home. Courses are held at all different times of the day and at weekends and the 'pick and mix' programme ensures that learning is individually tailored.'

For more information on what's on offer, contact the college on 01244 670 600 or 0151 356 7800.