A COMPUTER firm from Rossendale has helped four local groups by providing them with second-hand computer systems for free.

NCS Support Services, in Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, asked for local groups to contact them if they wanted a computer, and so far four have been given to Crawshawbooth Youth and Community Group, Stacksteads Riverside Park Group, Rossendale Mencap and Rawtenstall Youth Club.

Managing director of the family firm Carl Nelson said: "We sell a lot of systems and we do get computers back in part-exchange which sometimes we sell, then these we decided to offer to local groups.

"We have received a further nine applications for computers and we are hoping to get some more in. So hopefully we can give some more away to help the local community."

So far the company has put in about £1,000 to providing the machines for the various groups.

NCS was founded in 1994 by Carl, his father Stephen who has now retired and a third director who has now moved on.