When Shelley Clark entered a Learndirect competition, she never dreamed she would win! Sponsored by LWT and PC World, the competition was open to anyone who completed a Surf.direct course. The prize for five lucky winners was a brand new internet-ready computer.

At 37, Shelley wanted to learn how to use a computer well enough so that she could be involved with her fourteen, eight and five year old childrens development. So Shelley, from Tottenham, enrolled in July on a free Surf.direct course at her local Learndirect centre. The Centenary Centre is situated on the second floor in the College of North East London.

Once she had successfully completed the course, she decided to enter the competition, where she had to explain why 'winning a computer would transform her life'.

Realising that with three demanding children, studying further courses at the college would prove difficult due to time constraints, learning from home was the perfect solution. Plus, more importantly, owning a computer would be useful for her childrens schoolwork and learning.

So her successful response was "that she would love her children to be able to use a computer in their own home".

Shelley won a state-of-the-art Packard Bell imedia 5057 pc!

Notes to Editors:

1. Surf.direct is a user- friendly introduction to using computers, internet and email that is studied over the internet. The course is aimed at those learners who have no prior knowledge of how to use a computer and would like to learn to use the internet for practical and fun reasons. Available in CD Rom, it takes up to 6 hours to complete. For further information, visit www.learndirect.co.uk

2. For more information on Learndirect call 0800 101 901. Lines are open 7pm to 11pm everyday. Or visit www.learndirect.co.uk

3. Learndirect at CoNEL in Tottenham can be contacted on tel: 020 8442 3842 or email: dcordell@staff.conel.ac.uk