A VILLAGE primary school is looking forward to work on an extension getting under way next week.

The expansion of Barton Church of England school, near Darlington, will provide a new hall, kitchen, office and staff room. The old canteen building will also be demolished to create a car park.

The work, which starts on Monday, has been funded by a combination of North Yorkshire County Council's education services, school funds and money raised by the Friends of the School.

Headteacher Liz Trewitt said: "We hope the extension will be completed in March 2004.

"It will certainly make a big difference to the school.

"We plan to plant a time capsule at some point to tell people in the future about how we live today."