A BBC training bus is pulling into communities across South Yorkshire to help residents learn new IT skills.

In collaboration with Sheffield-based training company the idea of the BBC “Behind the Bus Project" is to raise skills in IT in local communities across South Yorkshire.

It is expected that more than 3,000 people will benefit from taster sessions and 500 will go on to more detailed training.

The BBC supplies the bus and driver, while The Academy For Community Leadership pays the running costs.

The bus is equipped with six multi-media computers, a scanner, colour printer, digital camera as well as a fully-operational radio studio.

It is located within a community for a whole week giving people the opportunity to progress as learners and find out about all the learning opportunities in the area.

Reinforcing what has been learned on the bus can be done either at home or at a community centre near to where the bus was based. There is also a free helpline to address problems arising between sessions. The Learning Community provides training, using laptop computers, at venues for at least six weeks after the bus visit them.