WORK began yesterday at a Hartlepool primary school to create facilities for pupils and the community.

Owton Manor Primary School has been awarded £500,000 from a joint Government and National Lottery scheme called Space for Sport and the Arts.

The grant will pay for a multi-purpose facility which will not only benefit the school, but also the surrounding community.

Plans include extending the school hall to create a badminton court, new changing facilities, a room for art projects and a small gallery for pupils and local artists to display their work.

The project is expected to be completed in the autumn.

Stranton, West View and Brougham primary schools have also received grants from the scheme.

Stephen Bloomfield, headteacher at Owton Manor, said: "This project will greatly enhance facilities for sport and the arts at the school and everyone is very excited.

"Not only will our pupils benefit, but the local community will have access to new facilities on their doorstep."

Only recently, the Government ranked Owton Manor Primary School as the 91st most improved school in the country.

It has also received a Quality Mark from the Basic Skills Agency for its commitment to pupils' literacy and numeracy skills.