A secondary school has become one of the first in County Durham to earn a Government award for creating a healthy learning environment.

Park View Community School, Chester-le-Street, has been awarded the National Healthy School Standard for improving the physical and educational health of its pupils.

To receive the award the school had to prove it dealt with issues such as bullying, drugs, sex, citizenship and healthy eating.

The school's health coordinator Helen Hunter said: "This award is excellent news for the school because it recognises the work that is done to prepare students for their adult lives.

"These skills are vital to help young people understand how to make healthy choices about lifestyle when faced with difficult decisions in the future."