THE Duke of Edinburgh Open Award Group in Okehampton will 'teach and develop skills in an up-to-date manner' thanks to a series of new laptops.

The group now has a series of laptops with funding from Devon County Councillor Kevin Ball's Locality Fund and money from the Local Youth Network. The laptops were bought nearly a year ago but due to software problems with the Duke of Edinburgh systems they have to be reconfigured back to Windows 7 and have the SATNAV e-mapping system installed.

Chris Bourne, Duke of Edinburgh co-ordinator, said: 'SATNAV is very good and allows routes to be planned and amended very quickly. It doesn't replace using the old fashioned methods with maps but it does help to teach and develop skills in an up to date manner.

'As with all other things today Duke of Edinburgh embraces modern technology but without losing sight of the fundamental skills of basic foundational methods, so these laptops will be an invaluable part of the resources for the continued delivery of Duke of Edinburgh locally.'