CHILDREN at an east Durham school will celebrated the official opening of their building today.

Pupils, staff and governors at Seascape Primary School, on Ellison Road, Peterlee, held a special event with Durham County Councillor Audrey Laing performing the ceremony.

The school replaced Eden Community Primary School, which was located on nearby Robson Avenue, in November last year.

The new school has bright and modern classrooms, equipped with the latest technology to help improve learning, as well as new sports and PE facilities which are also available for the wider community to use.

Headteacher Yvonne Ryle said: "We've waited a long time to get facilities like these but it has certainly been worth the wait.

"I firmly believe that this building has raised our spirits and our expectations. It will help local people to achieve their best now and for generations to come.

"Our school really has the wow factor - it's not only an excellent learning environment but also a really special place to come every day."

The school has places for 390 children, along with a 39-place nursery unit and a Sure Start Children's Centre, which offers a range of services for families with children under five.

There are also a number of environmentally friendly features for lighting and the collection of rainwater as well as a wood pellet biomass boiler to help reduce CO2 emissions.

The school was designed by Durham County Council architects and built by contractor Morgan Ashurst.