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 at the comprehensive.

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

But now the school has opened a bigger and better sports hall, complete with new equipment. Already the building is almost 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 stepped down from his 15-year career, has agreed to formally open the sports hall sometime 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 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."

Those lessons that were not held on the comprehensive's 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 sporting achievements.

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

The world championships were for those aged 35 and over and - despite competing against some former Olympic athletes - Gill came fifth in the world in the 45 to 50 age group. She had to compete in hurdles, high jump, shot-put, 200m, long jump, javelin and 800m.

She will be competing again next year.

Headteacher Ian Robertson said: "We're thrilled to open a new £1m sports hall for the benefit of the students and the local community."