Teesside power station has proved that it is plugged into the local community, by donating a modular building to a nearby school.

The organisation is also providing a surge of manpower to make sure that the building, which will be used as a meeting area for a parent and toddler group, is ready for the new school year, which starts in September.

St Mary's Infant and Junior Schools, Grangetown, recently amalgamated to become St Mary's Primary School, and two extra classrooms were built to accommodate all the children.

Learning that even with the additional space, there was not enough room for the parent and toddler group, staff at the power station decided to offer their services and create a separate play unit near the school.

Ian Clifford, site director, said: "We regularly work with the local community, and we were delighted when St Mary's Primary School accepted our offer of help to rehouse the parent and toddler group.

"We have donated a modular building that sits on land close to the school, and installed electricity and heating, as well as a ramp at the entrance, so there is access for the disabled.

"Although the work is in progress, we are looking forward to finishing all the decorating and attending the official opening in the autumn."

Mary Thomson, who runs the parent and toddler group, said: "We are really pleased to be working with staff at Teesside power station, who have already put in a great deal of effort to make sure that everything is just right for the children.

"We have named the new area the Rainbow Room, and there is absolutely no doubt that it will be a huge success once it is up and running next term."