Builders of the future

The schools were set the challenge of establishing their own construction company in a bid to redevelop Bishop Auckland Football Club's former Kingsway ground.

Sunnydale Comprehensive School became the first winners of the newly-launched Construction Challenge, with their design for a multi-plex, which contained a cinema, bowling alley and shops.

The winning team, Natasha Belchamber, Paul Batten, Kelly Ann Brown, Luke Munford, Terrimarie Proudfoot, Michaela Quinn, Anna Robinson, Laura Scott, Ian Smith and Neil Trotter were presented with trophies and £500 for the school.

The cinema was a common theme with Bishop Auckland schools, Bishop Barrington, who were runners-up, and St John's RC School creating their own cinema complexes.

The competition was the initiative of Bishop Auckland based M and M Plasline Ltd and has been backed by the Construction Industry Training Board, County Durham Education Business Partnership, Durham County Council and various firms, business agencies and local authorities.

John Straughan from M and M Plasline Ltd, said it had been so successful that it would become an annual event

He said: "I am extremely pleased and impressed with everything that the students have done and I am glad that people have taken the time and effort to make it a successful event."

Teacher Mark Walker from Sunnydale praised his students. He said: "They are all over the moon to win this. They have really worked hard and enjoyed it.''