PUPILS are getting to grips with the world of computers and the information superhighway thanks to an old boy.

Fee-paying Durham School opened its new computer centre during its speech day and prize-giving last Saturday.

The centre, which is housed in two classrooms, was funded by a bequest from the late Wilfrid George Oakley, a pupil at the school between 1918 and 1923, who later became a consultant at King's College Hospital in London.

The official opening ceremony for the centre was performed by the Bishop of Durham, The Right Reverend Michael Turnbull.

Headmaster Neil Kern said: "The centre, which until September 1999 housed two small ageing classrooms, was completely refurbished during last summer holidays and now provides state-of-the-art ICT facilities, with 47 terminals in two classrooms.

"Every pupil can have his or her own e-mail address and free - but controlled - access to the Internet.

"The centre has been in use for the past year and has proved a huge success.'