WORK is progressing well on Darlington's £23m education village.

The roofs and walls are all now complete, ensuring work can continue, whatever the weather.

The village - the first of its kind in the country - will see three schools share the existing Haughton School site. The pupils should move in during October next year.

All of the non-teaching blocks and the village "high street" have now been constructed, giving a good idea of what the completed job will look like.

Glazing work, including the installation of doors, has now been completed and the internal road structure is clearly visible.

The first three of eight football pitches have been seeded and are now growing ready for use next year.

Contractors are beginning to install the first of ten miles of cable and pipe works.

The council has recently reached agreement with Kajima Schools Darlington, which is constructing and will ultimately manage the site, on £1.7m-worth of furniture and fittings.

It includes computer aided design cutter plotters for design and technology areas, interactive whiteboards for all teaching spaces and extensive sports equipment.

The project team has used advice given by physiotherapists to choose chairs that are specially designed to provide pupils with effective back support.

Once complete, the project will bring together pupils from Springfield Primary School, Haughton School and Beaumont Hill Technology College.

From November 2005, about 1,400 pupils will be able to use a range of art facilities, a 25m swimming pool and a hydrotherapy pool, and a village green for external performances and events.

Other features will include outdoor classrooms with features that support the environment; sports facilities including an artificial cricket square and multi-use games area; a performance hall with separate dance and drama studios and interactive and music rooms with support bases for visiting therapists.

Chris McEwan, Darlington Council's cabinet member for children's services, said the dream was taking shape.

"Once complete, the education village will provide state of the art facilities and an inclusive approach to education that ensures every pupil achieves their potential in an environment that stimulates and promotes education and development," he said.