CONTRACTORS have been appointed to rebuild a secure children's home in the region once dubbed the UK's toughest, at a cost of £13.9m.

The 38-bed unit will replace Aycliffe Young People's Centre, on the A167 near Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, with modern facilities.

It looks after some of the UK's most disturbed and vulnerable 11 to 17-year-olds many of whom are criminals who have been sent by the courts. Work to rebuild the centre, within the existing site, will start in February and the new facilities are expected to be in use by summer 2011.

The current centre will continue to operate as normal throughout the building programme.

Durham County Council's cabinet appointed Heron Brothers as the contractor on Wednesday.

Coun Claire Vasey, cabinet member for children and young people's services, said: "This is an extremely important project, not just for the council and the young people the centre cares for but also for the local economy as it will bring a much-needed boost to the construction industry."

The centre was thrust into the national spotlight in the Eighties and Nineties amid allegations of brutality and a prison-style regime.

Its reputation has recovered in recent years and it has built up an international reputation for its rehabilitation work.

About half of the funding for the project has come from central Government and the National Treatment Agency.

The remainder will be provided by the county council and through income generated by the centre including a renewed contract with the Youth Justice Board until 2014.

The 38 beds will be housed within five smaller units, one of which will be a high-dependency unit for substance misuse.

It centre will include educational and vocational facilities, visitor and meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor communal space, offices and training rooms. It will also be installed with high-tech security systems.