BUSINESSES have helped a school realise a dream.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council chiefs praised companies that helped Bydales School, Marske, achieve Technology College status.

Sponsorship from industry has helped the school raise more than £50,000.

It also received a £100,000 Government grant, to allow the creation of a £150,000 technology learning resource centre.

It will be a new start for the 800-pupil school, which will be rebuilt on its Marlborough Avenue site as part of the council's multi-million pound Private Finance Initiative.

Councillor Steve Kay said: "The announcement of Technology College status is well-deserved for Bydales and gives the borough another centre of excellence, underlining what a high standard of education children are enjoying across Redcar and Cleveland.

"I would also like to applaud the many local businesses who have backed the Bydales' vision, for without their support, this would have been very difficult to achieve.

Bydales' biggest donations came from Northumbria Water, which gave £10,000, as well as £10,000-worth of goods and services. It has also promised to build a water feature and wetland. The Tees Valley Community Foundation gave £20,000, and the North East Community Forests group gave £10,000.

There were four-figure donations from Corus, Dow Chemical Company, K Home Engineering and Bells Stores, and pledges from UK Steel Enterprise, SembCorp Utilities, Huntsman and Uniqema.