NEW rural learning centres are to be set up in Ledbury and Colwall, but doubt already hovers over their future.

The centres aim to make learning available to those affected by economic decline in isolated rural areas and are expected to be up and running in the near future.

Organisers Rural Opportunities hope the two schemes will complement five existing centres around Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire.

But there are fears on-going growth could be stunted after funding runs out next month.

The organisation was set up in 2000 with grants from the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Learning Skills Council. It carries out extensive research into learning needs in rural areas and provides money for courses at local study centres throughout the region.

One of its key roles has been as broker between colleges and communities to make sure courses and study centres get off the ground.

Christianne Wakeham, Hereford-shire project worker for Rural Opportunities, said the project in Ledbury was in collaboration with Community Volunteer Action, Herefordshire College of Technol-ogy, Holme Lacy College and Worcester College of Technology.

A venue has yet to be decided, but she noted Herefordshire College already ran courses at St Katherine's Hall and said the project should hopefully be running soon.

In Colwall, Rural Opportunities is helping set up a Learn Direct scheme in the Millennium Room at the village library.

Ms Wakeham said that schemes tended to start small and then grow as more people get involved.

However, if no new funding can be found to help the new centres grow, she said it would be left in the hands of volunteers.

"We can't plan for the future knowing we might be gone," she said.