CHILDREN at a north Durham primary school have been given an extra week off.

Pupils who attend Bishop Ian Ramsey School, in Manor Road, Medomsley, near Consett, should have returned to school yesterday.

However, the school is undergoing a £4.5m revamp and temporary classrooms are being installed.

Headteacher Peter Boyle said: "We hoped to get them in before the children returned to school but were unable to.

"We needed to close the road for the crane and could not do that when we intended to because of the August Bank Holiday.

"The school is like a construction site at the minute and it would not be safe for the children.

"But they are not complaining about it."

Children are expected to return to school on Monday.

The school has been designed to blend in with the surrounding woodland and will have improved play facilities.

A multi-use gaming area for children will be built for football, basketball and tennis.

It is hoped the new facilities will be in place when the new school year starts next September.

Mr Boyle hopes to have an important visitor to open the school.

He said: "We contacted Buckingham Palace and asked whether the Queen would be able to come.

"We were advised to write to the Lord Lieutenant, which we have done, and we hope to hear something next week."