YOUNGSTERS from a village's primary schools will help to make history next week.

Children from Ushaw Moor infant and junior schools, and St Joseph's RC Primary School, will join Durham County Council's deputy leader Councillor Don Ross in cutting the ribbon to mark completion of a replacement £3m road-over-rail bridge, near the village.

Innovative engineering skills were required to put the new 70-metre Relley Bridge in place, at Stonebridge, near Durham.

The bridge carries the B6302 from Stonebridge over the main East Coast railway line to Broompark, Ushaw Moor and other villages of the Deerness Valley.

It was slotted into place using powerful jacks and rollers, at a speed of only 24-metres an hour. Coun Ross said by building the new bridge just south of the original, it was possible to keep the old bridge open and minimise disruption.

The old bridge is expected to be demolished by Christmas. Pupils from the three schools will attend the opening ceremony, on Wednesday, November 3, at 11.30am.