Thanks to signing a £60,000 contract with Calderdale Council, the Dot-communications group is now able to provide a wide range of IT services from web design and hosting to networking, technical support and advice.

The basic service being offered from the group's headquarters at Salem Community Resources Centre, Hebden Bridge, is free to registered members but more complex packages, such as monthly maintenance contracts, are available for a small charge.

Spokesman Jae Campbell said that until now, not-for-profit organisations in Calderdale had few choices about where they could get technical support or what the cost would be.

Dot-communications also accepts and recycles computers from businesses and individuals who would like to see them reused by community groups.

"But we can only refurbish them if they are in a reasonable condition and fulfil minimum technical specifications," said Mr Campbell.

Anything that cannot be reused has to be disposed of as electronic waste for which there is a charge.