POSTIES at Southampton's Royal Mail Centre are being offered a first class education package.

A new learning centre providing adult education sessions for staff has been launched at the giant mail distribution centre in Mitchell Way, near Southampton Airport.

The Teaching Post is a joint venture between the Communication Workers' Union, Royal Mail, and training provider Eastleigh College.

The official opening coincided with National Adult Learners Week.

A former training room at the mail centre has been converted into The Teaching Post which is kitted out with computers and will cater for about ten staff at a time as well as drop-in sessions.

Courses - many of which are free - will be run from the centre by Eastleigh College and subjects range from maths and English to information technology including introduction to digital photography.

Sessions will be run at various times throughout weekdays to fit in with people's shift patterns and courses are open to Royal Mail workers based at the mail centre.

Manager Keith Finch said: "We have around 450 employees here who will be able to benefit from The Teaching Post.

"We have had a good response with more than 200 people expressing an interest in courses and we look forward to people enrolling.

"It is great to be able to provide adult education for staff within the workplace. They will be in an environment which they are used to and will be able to take classes at times to suit them."

He added: "It is a tremendously exciting venture and a way of investing in the staff. Better education will benefit everyone and will also boost morale."