Charles Jack (standing) teaches Clare Moody, George Trytsman and Olwen Fyfe-Williams the secrets of speed reading. DA5693A GROUP of busy people who often find themselves bogged down with paperwork learned how to quicken their pace with a speed reading course at the City Hall in Salisbury earlier this month.

Student Olwen Fyfe-Williams, trade union officer Clare Moody and Business Link business adviser George Trytsman signed up for the course and achieved remarkable results.

George and Olwen both increased their reading speeds from 143 words per minute with 75 per cent comprehension to 500 words per minute with 90 per cent comprehension.

Clare went from 166 words per minute with 100 per cent comprehension to 650 words per minute with 90 per cent comprehension.

She said that as a candidate in the European elections and a trade union official, she had a huge volume of official documents to read and needed to get through them as quickly as possible.

Olwen, who is studying for a degree, said she had a lot of reading to do for her dissertation.

"I want to read quickly so I get through more than I do at the moment," she said.

George said his problem was "trying to keep up with the information overload".

"I want to improve my time management and comprehension," he said, "It's critical to my role as an adviser."