Schools making do with only one computer to a classroom of students can turn to the newly established Infomania Club as an alternative.

Infomania is a Watford-based organisation set up to give schools and the general public access to and advice on computers. At the moment, it's in its pilot stage, but if all goes well another 30 centres will be opened around the country.

The club, which is backed by Vidal Sassoon and Acorn Computers among others, has spent £35,000 buying micros - BBCs, Spectrums and Commodore 64s - and by Christmas it hopes to add the MSX machine.

Norma McClellan said: "We're providing a facility that schools could not provide for themselves. As well as each child having a machine to use, we will also have a full range of software for anyone to try out. It will be up to individuals how they spend their time at the centre - but there'll always be someone here to give help and advice."

It will cost £15 an hour for schools to use the computers and other users will be charged £15 for a year's subscription. For further information contact Infomania on Watford 55122.

If the club succeeds it will be a sorry reflection on the government's schemes to place micros in schools. But Infomania will not aim to educate.