TWO long term, partially-deaf friends claim a local college barred them from a sign language course without proper explanation.

Paulene Scott and Alan Gordon suffer from a condition known as Neurofibromatosis which has lead to total deafness for 54-years-old Alan from Boothstown.

Nurse Paulene, 60, from Hindley Green, is deaf in her left ear and only has 20% hearing in her right.

They said they were the only two disabled students within the Wigan and Leigh College class and claim: "Sign language is not an option for us, it is a necessity."

Both claim they were withdrawn from a second level course they signed-up for when a tutor advised them that they needed a refresher.

Alan said: "The college never informed us of the starting date even though they said they would. When I called into the college, I was told it had started the night before and that Paulene had withdrawn us both from the course!

"But Pauline said she hadn't and so rang the college and was then told that I had withdrawn us from the course and that there were no more places available! Are people allowed to withdraw others from the courses?"

They claim they have not yet received a satisfactory explanation and have been 'fobbed' off with various excuses.

"Firstly we were told we were automatically on the level two course, yet we later went down together and were told we were not accepted, but not why.

"Then we were told that the tutor did not feel we were up to passing level 2, yet we had passed level 1, and someone else who hadn't passed was allowed to proceed. We were then told that the course was full, yet an associate of ours received a letter offering her a place on the same course."

The Disability Rights Commission who organised a conciliation meeting. They were offered places on a course at a Hindley Green school, presenting transport difficulties.

Cath Hurst, vice principal of Wigan and Leigh College, said: "The conciliation was confidential. They were offered a central place at Hindley. These issues are investigated by the college and I can be certain Mr Gordon had a letter sent to him on March 19, 2004."