A STATE-OF-THE-ART education facility was officially opened by the Prime Minister today.

The £1.2million City Learning Centre at Dyke House School in Hartlepool, houses an impressive computer suite with 51 workstations, cyber-cafe, recording studio and music computer suite, dance and drama studio, as well as video conferencing and video editing facilities.

The centre, the first of its kind in the North East, has been funded through the government's Excellence in Cities programme and will be made available to the whole community.

The centre has many aims including; raising levels of achievements at key stage three, improving links with primary and special schools and providing high quality teaching and learning opportunities for all students.

Mr Blair toured the centre and talked to the people behind the innovation. He also met some pupils, teachers and residents who will benefit from the facility.

Jeremy Fitt, director of education with Hartlepool Borough Council, said: "We are delighted the Prime Minister accepted our invitation to visit Hartlepool to officially open the City Learning Centre.

"The facility represents a major leap forward for Hartlepool in computer-based learning and The Prime Minister saw at first hand how we are putting government money to good use."

Bill Jordan, headteacher at the school, said: "We are very excited about this new facility which will also be utilised after normal school hours including weekends and holidays.

"The centre provides a venue that combines the best in computer based learning facilities along with a pleasant and relaxing environment in which pupils, staff and the wider community can work.

"Although we are delighted the centre is located at Dyke House, it's important to emphasise that it's a facility for the whole town, and will be used extensively by pupils from other Hartlepool schools."