STAFF and students from an unfinished school are making use of a local sports centre's facilities.

Yesterday, staff and students from The Venerable Bede Church of England Secondary School, in Sunderland, paid their first visit to the Raich Carter Centre, in Hendon, for two hours of sports.

The school has booked the centre every Tuesday until the building is completed next September, and all 182 students will take part in a range of activities including self-defence, dance, gymnastics and swimming.

Before leaving for the Raich Carter Centre every week, they will eat a healthy lunch as part of the school's bid for a Healthy School Award.