VILLAGES across Wiltshire are to benefit from two £500,000 mobile learning units to be set up in March.

The Wiltshire and Swindon Lifelong Learning Partnership, a Government initiative set up in 1999, has commissioned the two specially fitted mobile learning units.

One unit will be based in north Wiltshire, under the control of Wiltshire College, with another based out of Salisbury.

The units will be equipped with between 11 and 13 PC workstations, offering paid-for courses focusing on IT.

Spokesman Don Courtney said other courses would also be available, subject to demand.

"The basic concept in Wiltshire, which is a big county, is taking learning to those people who cannot get out to usual learning centres," said Mr Courtney.

He said the unit's routes had not been decided yet and it had not been worked out which villages the vehicles would visit. The units would be manned by one tutor and would spend a day at a location.

Minety parish councillor Adrian Bishop said he was impressed with the idea.

"We welcome this scheme because it can be difficult to get suitable public transport at the right times," said Coun Read.

"I understand the units will have access to satellite technology so they should be able to offer all kinds of courses."