A TEN-part ITV series beginning on Sunday evening, July 29, and presented by Sir David Frost, who describes it as "brilliant television", gives a taste of a series of initiatives to be launched in Farnham in the autumn.

Alpha: Will It Change Their Lives? is a fly-on-the-wall documentary following a group of people attending a course at Holy Trinity Brompton, the home of Alpha, named for the first letter of the Greek alphabet (a beginning).

Alpha courses give an opportunity for anyone and everyone to explore Christianity in a relaxed unpressurised setting: more than two million people all over the world have taken part in the last six years in churches, homes, schools, universities and prisons.

Supported by all the main Christian denominations, the 10 weekly sessions (with an away day or weekend) are described as low-key, friendly and fun, geared to life today and with the added bonus of a shared meal (supper or coffee and cake).

Anyone with a mental question-mark about the relevance of Christianity in the year 2001 (sceptics, seekers, unbelievers, non-churchgoers - and confirmed churchgoers) are welcome.

The group of 10 (all in their 20s and 30s) to be followed in the televised series were applicants for the course attended by 800 people at Holy Trinity Brompton between May and July last year.

There are insights into their lives and homes and, beginning with varying attitudes to the Christian faith, they were interviewed throughout to see if their views were changing. Their verdict was given to David Frost in a specially built studio in the crypt of the church at the end of the series.

Frost, the son of a Methodist clergyman, declared himself "fascinated" when he was invited to host the programmes; he said that he was "naturally and instinctively interested".

Over the last few years, a number of churches in and around Farnham have been running Alpha courses, among them St Joan's RC Church, Farnham Baptist Church, Vineyard and St James', Rowledge.

More recently there has been a town-wide daytime Alpha course as well as an evening Alpha which have drawn people from several chrches and from no church background at all. Alpha breakfasts at the Castle have also provided a taster.

Alpha courses, both daytime and evening, will be running in the town from September. Daytime Alpha will be on Friday mornings (for information contact Jan Weir on 01252 7181043 while evening Alpha will be run by a number of churches and an inter-church group will be available (phone Sally Thurston on 01252 820244).

Alpha: will it change their lives? runs on the ITV channel from Sunday July 29 to September 30. The hour-long programmes start at 10 - 10.30pm (depending on scheduling