A PRIMARY school in Hartlepool has become the first in the North-East to achieve the first stage of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) award scheme.

The project, which was completed last week, is run through Hartlepool College of Further Education, and saw children from Fens Primary School achieve the bronze award.

The scheme has three levels - gold, silver and bronze - and there is no time limit on completion.

All the study was carried out in school and, in order to pass, the 52 year six pupils used a combination of practical experience and theoretical knowledge to examine construction-related topics.

As a reward for their achievement, the pupils were invited into the college to look at the facilities within the engineering, construction and design department.

The award scheme has been developed to encourage schoolchildren to gain a greater awareness of the construction industry.

It also aims to encourage teachers to make use of the wide range of resources and support that is available to them through places such as Hartlepool College.

Gillian Bulman, education manager for the CITB, said last night: "This is the first award that we have presented in the area, and we hope the pupils will continue, and progress on to the silver and gold awards.

"They have obviously worked very hard, and the staff at the school should be commended for driving this initiative forward."