THREE West Devon community groups are celebrating the award of new, state-of-the-art internet-ready computers which have been presented by telecommunications giant BT.
New tourism group Drake's Dartmoor, based in the Yelverton area, is one of the groups to receive a new computer.
The organisation promotes images of the Western edge of the moor as a wonderful place to visit to local, national and international visitors.
Stuart Fraser, vice-chairman of Drake's Dartmoor, said the computer will be stationed in a public place in Yelverton, still to be finalised, where visitors and the public will be able to gain access to the internet for a small fee.
He said: 'We will have as its home page our own website, so visitors to the area will be able to find out about the visitor attractions here, and local people will be able to go and use it to surf the internet.
'We are absolutely thrilled to be awarded it — it will be of real use to the community and Drake's Dartmoor was always about trying to be useful to everyone, not just a commercial group.'
Tavistock and District Conservation Project has also been awarded a new computer.
The project carries out a variety of environmental conservation schemes in the Tavistock area. Its volunteers are drawn from day centres and residential centres, young unemployed people on training schemes and school students.
Peter Kent, of TDCP, said: 'It's fantastic, really good. It's quite difficult for small organisations like ourselves because we are predominantly working in the community with our volunteers and getting computers, office equipment etc is a low priority — to get this sort of assistance is lovely.'
Mr Kent said the computer will be used by project volunteers for their own work in connection with training schemes they are undertaking, and for research into environmental issues, habitat management and other related subjects. Staff will also use it for work and research.
And South West Lakes Trust, based at Roadford Reservoir, is also in line for one of the BT computers.
The trust provides recreation facilities, public access, nature conservation and education at more than 40 inland waters in the South West.
The new computer will be accessible to local clubs, schools and individuals visiting Roadford, providing training in weather monitoring and water safety information.
The computers have been awarded as part of the BT Community Connections UK scheme, which aims to connect local groups to the world wide web, encouraging them to use technology to help improve community life.