CHILDREN at a Sedgefield school were looking forward to the first day of term more than usual this week.

Hardwick Primary School has reopened for the first time since it was gutted by fire in an arson attack in January last year.

For children returning to their classrooms on Thursday it was like starting at a new school.

Headteacher Gill Coulson said: "It was very exciting for the children and they have enjoyed looking around and seeing everything new."

The blaze destroyed the junior wing and badly damaged the hall. The rest of the school was severely smoke-damaged.

Alternative classrooms were found for the children in the village before Durham County Council arranged for a temporary school to be constructed.

Children studying in the portable classrooms were able to see the refurbishment work carried out during lessons. The total cost of the work is estimated at £1,692,000.

Mrs Coulson said: "Obviously all the fixtures and fittings are brand new and the junior wing has changed.

"We brought in a couple of ideas we picked up from the demountable classroom and changed things we were looking at anyway."

The finishing touches are still being made to a refurbished and extended nursery building, which will have a corridor linking it to the main school.

The nursery children are expected to move into their new classrooms in about three weeks.

Durham County Council leader Councillor Ken Manton said: "I am pleased to see the school rebuilt and the old part refurbished, and I hope to see all the children settling into their work."