YOUNG parents in Winkleigh now have the opportunity to join free new classes which help them keep down the bills on food and clothing.

Thanks to a £7,300 grant from the National Lottery's 'Awards for All' scheme, Winkleigh Community Centre is offering Sustainable-Living courses to help people learn practical skills such as preparing meals or how to get the best of their clothing.

Marjorie Howard, the secretary of Winkleigh Community Centre, who successfully applied for the grant said: 'Local transport is not terribly good around here and such courses are difficult to get to for many people.

'A lot of young people in the village are of a generation, or two, who have missed out on skills such as sewing, knitting, crochet and cooking.

'I just felt that with the recession and the difficulties young people are facing these days financially that are the sort of skills they need to be able to do.'

The courses will be run on Tuesday and Fridays mornings at the centre between 9.30am and 11.30am; to help young parents the courses will run to co-incide with the toddler group.

Project manager Rozz Algar will be assisted by sewing tutor Liz Rafferty and cookery tutor Jo Henderson.

For more information call Ross on 01805 804756.