A 93-YEAR-OLD can count herself as the newest member of Swindon’s ‘web-generation’.

IT trainers at Swindon’s newest and only free computer and internet training centre said the pensioner walked into the town centre location to sign up to Facebook and learn about computers last week.

She was among 15 people who have already begun individual seminars at the Voluntary Action Swindon (VAS), an charity based in John Street.

The organisation, which represents more than 1,000 charitable organisations around town, said it set up the UK Online Centre after receiving £10,000 from the Government to help 200 townspeople learn about the wonders of the web.

Matthew Pearce, of VAS, said he was excited that the national initiative, that hopes to engage with some of the country’s 10-million computer illiterate people, had been set-up in the town.

He said: “We want to help people use the internet because it is a fantastic tool that can be used for all sorts of different things, whether that is finding jobs, emailing friends, shopping, or learning about council tax and benefits.

“But the reality of the tool is that it can be quite terrifying to use at the beginning.”

Mayor of Swindon David Wren said: “As the mayor I am always giving speeches and I use the internet constantly to research them – this is a great scheme.”

Anyone interested in setting up their own private seminar at the centre, which is open during the week from 10 to 4pm, is asked to ring 01793 538398