A PAIR of lords, who were childhood friends at a Darlington school more than 50 years ago, are to making a return trip to their old school to open a new nursery unit.

Lord Darlington (Tom Sawyer) and Lord Mackenzie (Brian Mackenzie) were pupils at Dodmire Infant School, Rydal Road, in 1948 when the school was known as the Tin Hut.

This was demolished in 1999 to make way for two new classrooms - and these have now been converted into one open-plan building to house the nursery. On Monday, November 29, at 10.30am, the lords will cut the ribbon.

The work -including new toilet blocks, a disabled toilet, a new fully equipped kitchen and bathroom area, bath and shower facility - has cost about £160,000.

Headteacher Maureen Dixon said: "We are very excited about the nursery."