THE Prime Minister took time out of a busy schedule to join schoolchildren on a kick-about yesterday.

Tony Blair, a Newcastle United fan, even tested how hard he could kick a football and recorded a speed of 41mph.

He was opening the indoor soccer arena Soccarena in Durham City -joined by ex-Newcastle United player Jim Pearson and Sunderland stalwart Richard Ord, who are now general manager and head of coaching for Soccarena.

The football centre is the North-East's first indoor six-a-side football arena.

After the kickabout, Mr Blair said: ''These are fantastic facilities and can be a model for other sports centres right across the country.''

He joked: ''It is extraordinary that you have Sunderland and Newcastle supporters playing together, which is a model for all peace processes across the world.''

Earlier in the day, Mr Blair opened phase one of a £10m project in Durham being developed by Argon Properties and P Whelan Construction.

Cathedral Park, as the development will be known, is adjacent to the LG Philips factory due to close in July.

The development, when complete, looks set to create up to 525 jobs.

Phase one covers 2,510 square metres and is aimed at small and medium businesses. Tenants have already been secured for four of the five units.

Work on a further six units covering 2,788 square metres, which is phase two of the development, will begin on April 29.

A planning application for phase three - a single unit of 3,716 square metres - will be lodged soon.

The development is supported by European funding.

Richard Wilks, director of Argon Properties, said: "We are delighted with the speed at which we have let phase one and we are confident that this interest will continue with subsequent phases.

"We are extremely honoured that the Prime Minister has agreed to open this initial phase."

Mr Blair completed his schedule with a visit to the studios of Third Eye, at Low Willington Industrial Estate, County Durham, where he launched the world's first immersive technology"virtual reality" centre - the Blue Room.

The facility can recreate a fairground ride or other experiences using Hollywood-style technology to electonically "paint" the walls with moving images. Guests can experience virtual reality without the need for goggles.

Serious applications include replicating hazardous environments for industrial training. It can also provide therapy for children with special needs, such as autism, and be used to train police.