A PRIMARY school partly destroyed in an arson attack is undergoing a transformation to become a multi-million pound education centre for the community.

In February last year, a fire swept through Middleton St George Primary School, near Darlington, causing £356,000 worth of damage and forcing teachers and pupils to temporarily move to an empty school in Darlington.

Today, the village school is as warm and friendly as it was before the blaze, but the detrimental effects of the fire on the ageing building still show and staff are ready for a change.

Proposals for the demolition and replacement of the school on the same site have been prepared for consideration by Darlington Borough Council planning officials.

Headteacher Janine Gleeson said the move marks the beginning of a dream becoming a reality, because plans for a new building had been in the pipeline before the fire damage.

"The school is almost 100 years old and some of the things we will be getting, like walk-in cupboards and sinks in all classrooms, will be luxuries to us," she said.

The development will see the Church of England school gain an information technology suite, an outdoor education area, a nursery, a hall with staging and the latest in classroom design. After the existing building is demolished, the site will be landscape to include green spaces and a one-way road system.

At the moment, the school has places for 247 children, but in the new building there will be space for 315 pupils.

Mrs Gleeson, who came to the school in January 2000 as deputy headteacher, said it would become a facility for the entire community.

"While the children obviously come first, we are hoping the computers, hall and playing field will be widely used by local residents and clubs in the evenings and weekends," she said.

Building is likely to begin in September and it is estimated that the school will take about 45 weeks to create and cost in the region of £3.5m.

The plans are available for viewing in the school and anyone wishing to see them can call (01325) 332230.

Last June, two teenagers appeared before Teesside Crown Court and admitted setting fire to the school roof. They were sentenced to two years' detention in a secure unit.