A RED-FACED sign-writer will be sent back to school to correct the misspelling of the word technology on a sign.

Bungling officials put up a welcome sign outside the new Education Village, in Salters Lane, Darlington, including the word "technolgy".

The sign includes the name of the three schools -Springfield Primary School, Beaumont Hill Technology College and Haughton Community School.

Below Beaumont Hill Technology College is an explanation of the school, which says: "A specialist technolgy and vocational college."

Darlington Borough Council was alerted to the mistake by eagle-eyed residents.

It has been in contact with the firm in charge of the building project, Kajima Construction, which appointed the sign- writers.

A council spokesman said a correct sign had already been ordered and would be put up by Kajima Construction.

She said the error had not cost the council or the school any money.

The Northern Echo tried to contact Kajima Construction last night, but no one was available for comment.

Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: "Everyone can make a mistake occasionally, but people should not make mistakes on permanent and public signs like that.

"Anyone competent would have spotted it before it went up.

"It is particularly serious when it is an educational establishment because it is a bad example to youngsters."

The mistake came less than a month after workers at Stockton Borough Council were called back to Yarm Preparatory School, in Grammar School Lane. They had to replace a sign that read Grammer School Lane.

Their order for the sign was correct, but a manufacturer slipped up on the spelling.

Darlington's £37.3m Education Village was due to open in November last year. The date had to be put back until Easter because of an arson attack on the school's pool.

It will open for a series of guided public tours on Tuesday, March 21.