OLYMPIC champion Jonathan Edwards is to help a school celebrate the start of a new era in sports.

The Hermitage School in Chester-le-Street has been left without a sports hall since November 2001, when the hall was razed to the ground in an arson attack.

About £1m worth of damage was caused and all the school's sports gear was destroyed, including gym equipment, footballs, hockey nets, computers and administration equipment.

Now the school has opened a bigger and better sports hall, complete with new equipment. Already the building is nearly fully booked on evenings and Saturday mornings with classes for residents.

Sports teacher Gill Dobson said triple jump world record holder Jonathan Edwards, who has just retired from a 15-year sports career, has agreed to formally open the sports hall in the next few weeks.

She said: "It's a much better facility, it's modern, light and airy.

"We're over the moon with it, especially after two years of hell spent out on the field. It probably toughened the students up a bit, but when you take them into the sports hall, it's great to see their faces."

Lessons that were not held on the playing field, had to take place in the school hall and temporary changing rooms were created.

The new building, built on the site of the old one, will be named after Gill Dobson, for all the work she has done in the community and in honour of her own sporting achievements.

In summer this year she represented England in an international heptathlon in Puerto Rico, South America.

The world championships were for those aged 35 and over, and despite competing against former Olympic athletes, Mrs Dobson came fifth in the 45 age group.

She had to compete in hurdles, high jump, shot-put, 200 metres, long jump, javelin and 800 metres.

Mrs Dobson will be competing again next year.