WORK has begun on a new children's art centre which will offer visual arts experiences for primary school youngsters.

The centre, in the grounds of Our Lady and St Bede School, Stockton, has been funded through the Government's Space for Sports and Arts Scheme and is due to open in November.

Youngsters will be able to take part in classes in areas of arts activity that often are not possible within a school situation, including pottery, ceramics, sculpture and computer-based graphic art.

There will be up-to-the-minute art studios and an outdoor arts area will have the space and infrastructure to create temporary sculptures and large-scale environmental art, as well as outdoor performances.

It has been designed with the community in mind, and Stockton's adult education and family learning services will be running a host of formal and informal arts education classes.

They will range from silk painting taster sessions to full-length graphic design courses.

The centre will also play host to teacher training sessions, artists' residencies and exhibitions of work.

Alison Clark, arts development manager for Stockton Borough Council, said: "This is a very exciting development, both for education and the arts in the borough."