WORK started yesterday on a prize project to transform a school yard.

Longfield School, in Darlington, won a national competition run by Shepherd Construction to have a £10,000 building project carried out.

A team of pupils at the school came up with a design for a new school yard and beat competition from schools across the country to win.

The pupils, who carried out research among their fellow students, asked for the area to be transformed with seating and planting.

They also asked for a covered walkway to be built to link school buildings.

The school entered the competition in memory of former headteacher Dr William Ions, who died last year. Part of the scheme will include a clock dedicated to Dr Ions' work.

A team of pupils presented their scheme to a panel of judges earlier this year and it was voted the best in the country.

Those who made the bid were Daniel Asop, Ian Bell, Christopher Hakin, Lewis Moses, Jennifer Mulholland and John Stephens.

Since the money came to the school, the youngsters have been nominated for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award in recognition of their achievement.

The work on the yard is expected to take three weeks.

News of the success came as the school announced that it needed to raise £50,000 in two weeks to make a bid for specialist sports status.

The money was raised with just hours to go before the deadline set by the Government, and the school has put in a bid for the satus.

If it is successful, the school will be able to have access to extra funding to improve teaching and sports facilities.