A MULTI-MILLION pound eco-friendly primary school is to be created, after the Government stumped up more than £2m for the project.

Staff and pupils at Pelton Junior and Infant School, near Chester-le-Street, have been waiting for a new school for some time.

Their school buildings date back to 1901 and were placed at the top of Durham County Council's priority list for replacement as repair bills began to mount.

Earlier this year the council was invited to apply for funding from the Government to meet the cost of the building. Last Thursday, North Durham MP Kevan Jones was told by schools standards minister David Miliband, that they had the funding.

The following day Neil Foster, Durham County Council's cabinet member for education, and Mr Jones visited the school to break the news that the Government had offered £2.078m for a new combined school.

The school, which will cost a total of £3.078m, will have places for 390 primary school children and a 39-place nursery unit.

It will include the latest design and environmentally-friendly devices including built-in security measures, solar power, water recycling and biofuel boilers.

There will also be a dedicated IT suite, a place for special needs teaching and provision for an out-of-hours kids' club.

Mr Jones said: "It's wonderful news for the children of Pelton and will make such a difference to their education in the critical early years. The junior and infant schools will be transformed.

"It's great news for the children, their families, the staff and the whole community."

The new school is to be built on a playing field close to the main entrance.

Once the new building is in use the existing school will be demolished and a new playing field provided in its place.

Coun Foster said: "We tried once before to win funding to replace the schools, but without success. Since then, the condition of the buildings has deteriorated rapidly with potential to adversely affect delivery of the school curriculum.

"The amalgamation of the junior and infant schools into one new building will solve a number of problems in one fell swoop and create a showpiece of primary education in the area."