Bosses at City of Bath College have halved the cost of selected courses to appeal to people who are currently out of work and looking to retrain.

The college has slashed the cost of various courses, including diplomas in engineering, stonemasonry and travel and tourism, by 50 per cent to help people back into employment.

It is also offering students free tuition if they are applying for their first Level 2 or Level 3 course and in some cases help with transport costs to the college, based at Avon Street.

Principal Matt Atkinson said the college was determined to do all it could to help people from Bath and beyond back to work: "These courses have been reduced in cost to appeal to anyone who is currently out of work but keen to update their knowledge or learn a completely new trade or skill.

"With the economy at last showing tentative signs of improvement, this is the ideal time for people to retrain and improve their skills so they can position themselves ahead of the rest when the economy picks up and recruitment steps up a gear."