A Bishop Auckland headteacher has called for vandalised buildings next to his school to be demolished as soon as possible.

A weekend blaze wrecked a disused teaching block near King James 1 Community College only a few months after the former gymnasium next door was targeted by arsonists.

The classrooms, part of the former lower school, had been handed back to the education authority, Durham County Council, whose staff were on site yesterday checking the condition of the building.

The site is scheduled to be used for a leisure development funded by public and private sector money.

Headteacher Ed Lott said: "I have campaigned hard for four years to see the old site demolished, the listed buildings at the front redeveloped and a new leisure centre, nursery and sports hall created in partnership with the county and the private sector, to the benefit of all Bishop Auckland residents.

"Plans are now in place and, with the building of the new Asda and other retail developments on South Church Road, we are set to be at the centre of an exciting new phase in the life of the town.

"Ever since we had our excellent new college facilities built on a fresh site to the rear of the existing school, we have been dogged by the fact that people quite naturally think that these buildings belong to us, but they don't.

"The county council is responsible for this part of South Church Road."