AN eagerly-awaited £2.7m school will open in Darlington next month.

The new Alderman Leach Primary School, near the West Park development in the town, will accommodate 315 pupils.

The building will be handed over to teaching staff on February 21, after the half term break. The pupils will move in shortly afterwards.

When it is finished, the West Park community village will include 700 homes, a £20m mental health unit, a park, a pub, a convenience store, a doctors' surgery and the new school.

The development will also have a 26 place nursery, which will provide comprehensive care for three and four-year-olds.

Parents of children who attended the former Alderman Leach Primary School will be sent a letter telling them of new arrangements.

Special features at the school include the latest information technology equipment, interactive whiteboards, a multi-use games area, football pitch and a hall with a sprung floor, making it suitable for activities such as badminton.

Many of the facilities in the school will be available to the local community making it an important centre for lifelong and family learning and community based activities.

The school is the first in Darlington to get a new flood- lit multi-use games area which has been funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

The area, 37 metres by 18.5 metres, can be used for a variety of sports, including netball, tennis and basketball.

Chris McEwan, Darlington Borough Council's cabinet member for children's services, said: "I am really excited that the opening of this state of the art school is now set.

"The new school will provide a positive environment for teaching and learning and taking part in sports and creative activities.

"This will be the second new school that we have built since becoming a unitary council, and there are more to come later this year with the development of our education village, the new Harrowgate Hill Primary School and the new primary school in Skerne Park.

"This demonstrates our positive and active commitment to the education of young people in Darlington."

The former Alderman Leach Primary School has been sold to a private owner.