MORE than £1.5m of building works will put an end to a town centre trek between lessons for pupils at a secondary school.

Teesdale Comprehensive School, in Barnard Castle, is to be given a much-needed drama studio and technology suite on the school's main site.

At present, students have a seven-minute walk to an annexe of Green Lane Primary School for technology lessons and computer workshops.

Following years of campaigning to have the annexe replaced with a building on the main site, in order to improve health and safety and reduce the amount of time lost from lessons, the school has been awarded funding for the improvements by Durham County Council.

The technology suite will feature a graphics room, an information and communications technology room, a multimedia workshop, a pneumatics room and preparation and storage areas. It will be built at the rear of the main building at a cost of £1.12m.

The £425,000 drama studio will be created at the front of the building and will include five music practice rooms and a mezzanine floor for lighting.

It is hoped the drama studio will be completed by next September and the technology suite will ready shortly after Christmas next year.

Plans for the buildings have been approved by the county council cabinet and are being prepared for submission to Teesdale District Council for planning approval.

A spokesman for the county council said the work was being carried out to eliminate the split-site arrangements and to provide accommodation to address concerns raised by education watchdog Ofsted regarding the lack of suitable accommodation for performing arts.