WORK has started on a £10m research facility at one of the region's universities.

The Wolfson Research Institute, at the University of Durham's Stockton campus, will bring together a number of disciplines in one building and will focus on research into health, medicine and the environment.

The institute has received a £3.5m grant from the European Regional Development Fund and £4m from the Wolfson Foundation, one of the country's leading charitable trusts.

It is hoped research at the centre will be used to directly benefit people living in the North-East.

The 4.500 square metre building will house 23 laboratories, 58 offices, two preparation rooms, an IT suite, consulting and seminar room as well as an informal meeting area.

The two-storey institute will be built on the Teesside campus, on the South Bank of the River Tees.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Durham, Sir Kenneth Calman said: "The process of transformation and regeneration is as important to us as it is to our partners.

"Through the enormous efforts of the UDSC Provost John Hayward, and his team, our Stockton campus has not only transformed the landscape of the Teesdale site bit has also become a magnet for positive partnerships."

Among those using the new facility will be 70 medical students who will be admitted to the university in September as part of joint programme with Newcastle University.

The students will concentrate on the role of medicine in society and, as well as working in the research unit, will spend time with GPs and in hospitals.

Durham University's Stockton campus has created 200 jobs in the area and the new research facility is expected to double that number