A Darlington college has received a mixed report from Government inspectors.

The Further Education Funding Council inspected Darlington College of Technology earlier this year and released its findings yesterday.

It said: "The college is well managed. It has sound partnerships with a wide range of organisations.

"There are clear lines of communication in the college. Arrangements to provide advice and guidance to students are effective."

One of the college's centres outside the town came in for special praise. The report said the telematics centre at Catterick was outstanding.

But the proportion of lessons judged by inspectors to be good or outstanding was below the national average.

The report said: "The college should improve the quality of its teaching and learning.

"It should also improve student retention rates, the level of student achievement, some tutorial provision, the quality of students' action plans, access for people with restricted mobility and aspects of the corporation's business."

The college draws its students from a population of around 150,000, and is near the borders of North Yorkshire and Teesside.

It has three centres in Darlington and operates a network of community centres.