THE wooden temporary classroom building in the grounds of one North-East school has become such a permanent feature that it is part of the landscape.

The hut-like building has been at Bishop Barrington Comprehensive School, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, for more than 25 years.

For years, students at the school have referred fondly to the classrooms as the "chicken huts" - despite the best efforts of headteacher Keith Cotgrave to change the name to the "PSE suite of rooms".

"I've tried to get the kids to change its name, but they won't have it," he said.

"It was put there as a temporary arrangement, but it is part of the landscape now."

Outside, paint is peeling, but inside, the classrooms are just as cosy as those in the main school building.

Said Mr Cotgrave: "It's nicely decorated and carpeted and has central heating, so it's warm.

"We've spent a fair bit doing it up and making it nice.

"We would like to think at some point this temporary building could be removed and substituted with some sort of new building. But at the moment, we desperately need it."