WORK has started on rebuilding a Sedgefield primary school which was destroyed in an arson attack.

The £832,000 scheme to redevelop Hardwick Primary School got under way this week.

The school was wrecked by fire in January and children had to be sent to nearby schools and the local parish hall for lessons.

Pupils have been back under one roof since spring, when Durham County Council's education department set up 32 demountable sections as a temporary school.

Vice-chairman of governors John Robinson said everybody was delighted to see work starting on rebuilding the school.

He said he was especially pleased to see an extra £170,000 being spent on enlarging the nursery to 52 places.

"We have always had a problem in Sedgefield with nursery places, but the council is going to give us more and everybody's delighted by that," he said.

The temporary arrangements have been a success, he said.

It is hoped that the work will be completed and the pupils back in permanent classrooms by the end of March next year.