A NEW school building, replacing one that served the community for almost 150 years, has received its official blessing.

Richmond MP William Hague was the special guest at Middleton Tyas' £1.1m new primary school, near Richmond.

He joked: "The original school cost £785, the latest one has cost the county council's education service £1.1 million. By that reckoning, the next one will be due in the 22nd Century and, with inflation, should cost £1.5bn."

Headteacher John Ridley performed the opening ceremony in front of packed audience. The school was then open for conducted tours.

Mr Ridley said: "We have got everything we didn't have at the old school. Two years ago, the education service decided to give us a new school and I went along to see history being made. It took seconds for the decision to be made and since then we have never looked back."

Councillor Jim Clark, the county's executive member for education, said: "This is a wonderful school and it fits in very well with the environment around it."