THE company behind a new Information Technology training centre in Kendal claims it is the first of its kind in Cumbria.

Manchester-based Train IT, which specialises in training for IT professionals, has converted a former house off Underbarrow Road into a state-of-the-art technical education centre.

The building, leased from Kendal Fell quarry owner Tarmac, has been transformed into a six room training centre situated in its own grounds.

Train IT has invested £250,000 in the venture, which it believes will plug a gap in the market.

The facility, to be known as the Foxdale centre, was unveiled at an open day for invited guests last Friday and attracted "extremely positive feedback," according to sales manager Malcolm Anderson.

The centre was also featured on BBC2's Working Lunch programme this week.

Managing director Peter Hannigan commented: "This new centre is fabulous news for us, we can now offer Cumbrian businesses a service city-based companies have enjoyed for years."

The centre will run technical training courses aimed at senior IT and training managers and human resources staff from both the public and private sectors.

There will also be 'computers for directors' training sessions, offering bosses from all over the country the chance to spend a weekend in the Lakes, getting to grips with IT.

The centre had been opened to meet the growing demand for IT training in Cumbria, and meant people no longer needed to travel to Manchester or Edinburgh for specialist training, said Mr Anderson.

"We have taken advance bookings and we expect to be very busy.

The interest has been phenomenal," he told Business Gazette.

A government department was among the first clients lined up for training sessions, while Cumbria County Council, which is poised for a major IT investment, was very interested, he added.

Six IT trainers plus administration staff have been recruited, and with many courses running for five days, delegates will be staying at Kendal's Stonecross Manor Hotel.