DOZENS of children swapped plastic building bricks for the real thing, cementing further relationships between their school and a college.

The construction department at Darlington College of Technology gave some expert tips to 30 youngsters, aged four and five, from the town's Harrowgate Hill Infants School.

"They have been doing a three- week project about building," said headteacher Margaret Ann Cunningham.

"We have been using plastic bricks and dissolvable cement, but at the college, we were able to use real bricks.

"I'm sure some of the pupils will grow up to be builders one day, so it's important to get a feel for what it will be like. The children absolutely loved it at the college. We have always had good contacts with them."

Some years ago, college construction students built a playhouse in the school grounds after children had visited a brick factory. Students used a mouse feature on the construction, which gave rise to its name - the mouse house.

"It's ironic really as the junior school is also known for its conservation project to breed harvest mice," said Mr Cunningham..