CREATIVE souls on Oxford's Blackbird Leys estate are being encouraged to start strumming, writing, crafting and designing as the area's learning centre launches its largest ever range of courses.

For the first time budding Jimmy Hendrixs are being given a chance to start learning the guitar at weekly Monday night sessions held in the Blackbird Leys library in Blackbird Leys Road.

The free five week programme for adults over 19 started last week but people are still able to join from tonight.

Sasha East, the centre's community development manager, has organised the classes and is also trying her hand at learning the guitar herself.

She said: "The centre has run maths and English classes for a long time but we wanted to do something a bit more fun and creative.

"In January we started to expand our the number of courses and now we've added loads more.

"Playing guitar was not something that was offered on the estate and I felt it was important to give people the chance to try something new.

"A lot of people in the area said they wanted to play and I thought it might be fun.

"People have really got stuck in.

"We're making a lot of noise in the library but it's okay, we've been given permission."

The guitar course is one of 17 courses and workshops running this autumn including web design and word processing, art courses, sculpture making from recyclable materials and creative writing, blogging and self-publishing.

The centre is run by the Abingdon & Witney College as part of its aim to bring adult learning closer to local communities.

The college runs lessons in 80 different locations across the county including schools, villages halls, libraries and museums alongside learning centres in Abingdon, Berinsfield, Blackbird Leys, Grove, Kidlington, Oxford and Witney.

Courses in Blackbird Leys take place during the day, the evening or the weekend and more information can be found by dropping in to the Library or calling 01235 216 447.