A MUSIC therapy room which will help children with profound learning disabilities has been opened in memory of a young boy who died last year.

The Matthew Bacon Music Therapy Suite was launched at a ceremony in Beaumont Hill School, Darlington.

The suite was the idea of Margaret Severi, a teacher at the school.

She needed an adapted room for pupils to use a musical instrument called a sound boom, which is played by the slightest movement in the air.

Darlington Borough Council funded the room at a cost of £5,500.

Mrs Severi said: "I realised that it was really difficult to give the children that individual attention they need in a confined classroom, so I created this space for the children.

"It is a very special room that has sound dampening and special lighting effects, which can change the colour make-up of the room when you are working with the children.

"Children can work with me in a class situation, in a group situation or individually, depending on what they need.

"I'm also hoping to start an after-school club very shortly, and that will be really nice because it will be another use for this special room."

Children from the Amicus music project performed at the launch.

The group is the result of a partnership between pupils at Beaumont Hill and Skerne Park schools.

Amicus, named from the Latin word for friendship, recently set up its own website at http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/amicus through The Northern Echo's CommuniGate scheme.

The room is named after Matthew Bacon, a former pupil at Beaumont Hill School who died just before Christmas last year.

Mrs Severi said: "Matthew was a child in my class and he was a very special musician.

"He could play the sound boom with his feet, and he was truly amazing - he used to sing with it.

"His music formed part of the concert, and we just thought it made an extra special reminder of him."

Matthew's mother, Angie, was among the audience at the opening of the room.

Mrs Severi said: "We had many guests, and it was wonderful for them to come and see what a lovely room it is.