JOB opportunities for people with learning disabilities in Wiltshire are set to improve.

A £600,000 grant will help to create 170 supported employment places for people with learning disabilities across the county over the next three years.

Ten job coaches will work with employers to provide suitable job opportunities.

Wiltshire County Council, which covers Wootton Bassett, Crick-lade and Purton, is responsible for managing the European Social Fund grant. The council has contracted Care Rowde to run the project. County council staff will be seconded to Care for the three years of the project, which runs until 2007.

Care is a national not-for-profit organisation with more than 38 years of experience of providing services for people with disabilities.