A £20M school in the North-East is nearing completion.

The Unity City Academy building has been described by builders as revolutionary and will serve east Middlesbrough.

The copper-clad elliptical building, designed by Hickton Madeley Architects, features an egg-shaped timber-clad lecture theatre pod suspended on four steel legs above the main concourse.

The pod is visible through the glazed curtain walling in the main facade of the building and appears to be suspended in space.

Access to the lecture theatre, which will seat 120 people, is via a bridge at first floor level.

The city academy opened last September in the buildings of the old Langbaurgh and Keldholme Schools which it has replaced.

The building is due to be completed by the end of this month and is expected to open next month. The complex will take 1,230 pupils.

It will also accommodate 1,500 adult learners who will be taught in separate buildings to the youngsters.