FORMER Tory leader William Hague will be going back to school to open a £1.1m development.

The Richmondshire MP will open the Church of England primary school at Middleton Tyas on Friday, May 21.

The building replaces one that dated from 1862 and over the years had been divided into classrooms for infant and junior pupils.

Children had to walk to the village hall for lunch and PE, and although a mezzanine floor was put in four years ago, there was no room for further expansion, even though it has 113 pupils.

The possibility of new premises was talked about for 20 years and has now become a reality, built on what was the playing field.

As well as the headteacher and six part-time teachers, the school also has a full and part- time secretary and two teaching assistants, with a cook and assistant cook preparing lunch for pupils and staff.

There are five classrooms, a large sports hall, kitchens, a library, outside play area, and ventilated storage areas for lunch boxes.

The timber came from sustainable forests, and a water harvesting system collects rainwater from the roof, filters it, stores it and uses it to flush the lavatories.

However, one old tradition remains - the original school bell which has been taken from the former building.

Headteacher John Ridley said: "The bell dates back to 1862 and has been restored by a parent who is a farrier. One of our children rings it every morning at the beginning of assembly.

"The children have responded in an amazing way. They have watched their new school being built and we have got a building we are very happy with.

"We have a lot of happy memories of the old building but any romantic notions are far outweighed by the advantages of the new school.

"We now have everything we didn't have in the old school and that is superb."

North Yorkshire County Council's executive member for education, Councillor Chris Metcalfe, said: "Teachers have been consulted at every step resulting in a school which meets all their wants and needs."