A Darlington school could use solar panels or wind energy to provide power to the classrooms after it won £25,000 of funding to develop various environmental projects.

Branksome School won the funding from the Department for Education and Skills to develop the scheme, which is running as a pilot in three schools across the Tees Valley.

Branksome has been chosen as an Enterprise Pathfinder school, which is part of its bid to get specialist business and enterprise status.

It will now develop environmental schemes that can be sustained in the school in the future.

Deputy headteacher Bernie Coyne said: "We are looking to develop environmentally sustainable activities that are enterprising. So far, for example, we are looking to develop energy saving schemes, such as solar power energy or wind power. We are doing other projects but this is probably the main one.

"The pupils will be involved very closely in this as an enterprising way of doing technology."

He said the school was hoping to enlist the help of Clear Skies, a Government-aided body which helps schools to develop environmental projects.

Branksome won the funding following a successful anti-litter and environmental campaign, during which pupils designed bins and benches to improve the environment in the school and surrounding area. Paper recycling schemes may also be introduced, with pupils learning about the initiatives alongside their curriculum.

Pupils are also closely involved with improving the nature reserve surrounding the Cocker Beck, which runs past the school.

A group of volunteers from the school are working with Darlington Borough Council to clean the beck and improve the area.

The Cockerton Partnership and the borough council are hoping to win extra funding to develop the Cocker Beck area. The partnerships wants to provide information boards and benches for both residents and pupils, who could also use the area as a resource for lessons.