COUNCILLORS in Darlington are expected to delay the appointment of a developer for a multi-million pound education village.

Darlington Borough Council had been due to choose a contractor to build the £34m development at a meeting on Thursday. But officers have recommended that members delay their decision until the two bids put forward are evaluated in more detail.

The school will be the first of its kind in the country built using the Private Finance Initiative and will bring together Haughton Comprehensive, Springfield Primary and Beaumont Hill Special schools on a single 14-hectare site.

The schools' headteachers, senior staff and council officers have been shown models for the proposed "super school" and outline planning permission has been granted.

A report to the council said both bids were detailed and competitive.

The council also plans to merge Harrowgate Hill infant and junior schools on the junior school site.