A MODERN learning centre opened its doors this week at a Catterick Garrison primary school.

Housing a suite of 16 computers, the resource centre cost more than £30,000 and will greatly benefit the education of children at Le Cateau school.

Cynthia Welbourn, director of education at North Yorkshire County Council, performed the opening ceremony using an interactive pair of scissors and ribbon on a screen.

Headteacher Grahame Shepherd said: "It was a brilliant day and we managed to project the ceremony onto a big screen in the school hall so that all the children and staff could watch."

The resource centre will also have an extended library, which Mr Shepherd said is the most important aspect. "The children must realise that the electronic age will not fully take over from the written word - when the power goes off, they can still read by candlelight," he said.

The school community managed to raise more than £5,000 over the past six months to help fund the centre. Fundraising activities included a sponsored drive-thru at the McDonald's fast-food outlet in Catterick Garrison and a raffle.