EURO MP Stephen Hughes opened a school's new facilities for disabled pupils and adult learners.

Wellfield Community School, in Wingate, near Peterlee, has installed specially adapted toilets, showers, a rest room and physiotherapy facilities for disabled students, turning the school into a resource for County Durham.

It has also created a Learndirect Centre, where adults can study for further qualifications with the help of a Learndirect tutor.

Both centres were opened by the North-East MEP, who spent nearly two hours looking around the school.

A spokesman for the school said: "The idea is to integrate disabled students into school life as much as possible. Wheelchair access is available upstairs and downstairs and in general they can follow a normal school timetable."