CRUMBLING schools in the region are to get almost £13m for major rebuilding work and to create modern facilities.

Schools in Darlington, Hartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland will receive a share of the modernisation package announced by School Standards Minister Estelle Morris, yesterday.

Schools in 61 local education authorities are among those benefiting from the £106m in the Government's Targeted Capital Fund handout.

High Tunstall School, Elwick Road, Hartlepool, has scooped £1.9m for a range of improvements to the 1970s built school.

They include bulldozing seven outdated mobile classrooms and creating new art, computer technology, music and drama facilities. There will also be a new base for children with special educational needs, and improvements made to the school library.

Headteacher Peter Cutland said he was delighted by the announcement.

"This is a big project and obviously great news for everyone at High Tunstall School," he said.

"It is so important that pupils are educated in the best possible environment and this package of improvements will help in the ongoing efforts to raise school standards."

Design work on the project will start straight away and it is hoped that work will be completed by late next year.

In Darlington, £2.1m will go towards building a new primary school on the Firth Moor estate.

The school will house more than 200 junior and infant pupils, as well as a nursery, and replace the present junior school, which is more than 30 years old. Building work will start next year.

Councillor Don Bristow, Darlington Borough Council's deputy cabinet member for education, said: "This is very good news. We're really pleased.

"As well as being a much- needed school, it's something new and something to kick-start the regeneration of the area. People have been waiting for this for a long time."

Other authorities to benefit include Redcar and Cleveland £1,183,000; Newcastle £430,000; Sunderland £2,380,000 and North Tyneside £4,788,000.