BARNSLEY has a new 'partner' - Microsoft.

The council has won £5m-worth of free IT training after a successful application to the firm's 'Britain Works Challenge'.

Council chief executive Phil Coppard said: "It now means there's a relationship with Microsoft, obviously no small company, which we might want to exploit further."

The funding works like vouchers so it can be spent on different Microsoft courses.

Coun Tim Cheetham said the training will benefit people of all ages and from all walks of life, but will predominantly benefit the unemployed.

He said: "It could basically train every workless person in the borough. It's accredited training and employers do look at this.

"To be able to offer it effectively for free is absolutely fantastic."

Priory Campus already offers some of the training which the vouchers can be used for.