A MULTI-MILLION pound learning centre will be at the heart of the renaissance of Darlington, the town's MP Alan Milburn has predicted.

Mr Milburn has had his first tour of the £34.5m Darlington College, being built off Haughton Road, and said it promises to be "absolutely amazing".

He said: "The new college will be at the heart of the renaissance of Darlington. It will be a modern, state-of-the-art facility which, for the first time, will boast a university centre.

"We can be very proud of having a grade-A facility like this which will serve the people of this area for many years to come. It is money very well spent."

Work began last February on the college, which is on schedule to be completed in August in time for the new term.

The centrepiece will be a futuristic glass plaza-style entrance around which will be arranged front of house services including a restaurant and caf, hair and beauty salons and a library and learning resource centre.

Corridors will then lead to the main blocks, including media and design, music technology, sports and engineering centres.

Students will be able to experience theory and practice on a host of vocational courses ranging from sport and leisure, catering, beauty and child care to engineering, motor mechanics, construction and media.

The first and second floors will form the university centre which will bring together the further and higher education skills of Darlington College with the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College and University of Teesside.

College officials are expecting to cater for ten per cent more people than the current 1,500 full-time and 14,000 part-time students.

Sarah Robinson, principal and chief executive of the college, said: "This is one of the most exciting projects of the moment.

"As a 21st Century learning park we will be able to provide flexible education and training to meet the needs of the community and employers, using high quality facilities, in an atmosphere which is conducive to learning."