ABOUT 1,500 people have been on guided tours of the new £37.3m Darlington Education Village.

When it opens on April 24, the village will accommodate 1,400 pupils of all abilities, aged from two to 19, from Haughton Community School, Springfield Primary School and Beaumont Hill Technology College.

The school includes modern sports facilities, dance and drama studios and a performance hall, which opens out onto the village green area.

Darlington Borough Council's libraries and community learning service is running a range of courses in May and June at the village, including drama, art, embroidery, hair and beauty, photography and fashion-based subjects, with courses running for up to 11 weeks.

For information about the courses, call (01325) 349648.