A grant of more than £20,000 is being given to a project aiming to contribute to the regeneration of Torpoint.

The town's community development forum has won £20,070 from the Key Fund which supports schemes in Cornwall. The money will help to pay for a full-time manager at the Torpoint Open Access (IT) Training Centre.

The centre, formerly known as the Ratio Centre, enables local people to gain computer skills and retrain.

Development forum chairman Alan Brimacombe said: "This is the first major grant of this type for a community project in Torpoint.

"The forum is very pleased with the award for this pilot scheme. We see the grant as the key to the door. It will give other agencies confidence in us. We will have a track record of receiving funding."

The forum, a voluntary organisation involved in the regeneration of the town, took over full control of the open access training centre on the Trevol Business Park at the beginning of the year. The centre was originally started as part of the Ratio Project which set up training centre across the South West.

The centre works in partnership with colleges and training establishments, enabling local people to undertake computer-based training courses at a time convenient to them without leaving Torpoint. The training equipment includes video conferencing and e-mail facilities so students can interact with their tutors.

At present the job of centre manager and training facilitator is being carried out on a voluntary basis. The paid post will now be advertised.

Mr Brimacombe said: "The appointment will be for 12 months. The forum is putting in £2,700 towards the post and CHAT (Community Health Around Torpoint) is giving £300.

"We want the new manager to realise the potential of the centre. He or she should aim to obtain other grants which will enable the continuation of the scheme.