PUPILS at four primary schools in Hartlepool are to benefit from the latest information technology equipment.

Barnard Grove, Lynnfield, Jesmond Road and St John Vianney RC primary schools have made successful bids totalling £37,000.

The money is coming from a funding regime set up by the Government called the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

Between them, the four schools will have access to 26 laptop computers and 12 palmtops.

The pilot project will run for three years and schools will be given additional funding to regularly update computer software.

Barry Lennard, headteacher at Barnard Grove, said: "Information technology is playing an increasingly important role in everyday life, and it is tremendous the latest computer equipment is being made available to pupils.

"Computers have a vital role to play in many areas of the school curriculum and I do think this project will help raise attainment levels, not just in information technology, but also literacy and mathematics."