FOUR primary schools in a North-East borough were celebrating last night after landing a total of £1.75m to improve facilities for sport and the arts.

The award to the schools in Hartlepool is part of a £130m joint Government and Lottery-funded programme called space for sport and arts.

About 300 primary schools across the country, from 65 local education authorities, are benefiting from the funding.

In Hartlepool, West View Primary was awarded £500,000 to create a sports hall, meeting room and a medical office. It will also see the creation of an outdoor play area and a new soft play area.

Stranton Primary has been awarded £395,000 to create a games area and changing facilities, with two adjacent classrooms being refurbished for arts provision.

The £500,000 awarded to Owton Manor Primary will extend the school hall into a multi-use sports hall. An exhibition gallery, arts facility and community kitchen will also be provided.

Brougham Primary, which has been awarded £354,000, will extend the school hall with staging and storage space. Other features will include new changing rooms with showers, a large meeting room and a music studio.

Work to transform the four schools is expected to start in the summer.

Brian Littlefair, chairman of Hartlepool Borough Council's education board, said: "The council and the schools have worked closely together in submitting the grant bid.

"This funding initiative aims to improve facilities for sport and the arts in schools and has the potential to open up new opportunities for community use.

"This really is tremendous news for Hartlepool, and it is money which will certainly be put to good use."

Recently, a joint report by the Audit Commission and Ofsted placed the town's education service in the top 25 per cent nationally.