MILLIONS of pounds were handed out for schools across the region yesterday, as parliament broke up for the general election.

Scores of academies and sixth-form colleges were handed cash from a £367m fund for small-scale repairs, after an exhaustive Government survey.

The grants – likely to be about £250,000, on average - will pay for upgrades to roofs, classrooms, heating systems, fencing, toilets, kitchens and for the removal of asbestos.

The schools awarded repairs cash include:

* County Durham: Framwellgate School, St Bede’s Catholic Comprehensive School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester, Woodham Academy, Cleves Cross Primary School.

* Darlington: Hurworth School, Darlington School of Maths and Science, Longfield School, Carmel College, St John’s Church of England Academy, Mowden Junior School, Gurney Pease Academy, Gurney Pease Academy, Rydal Academy, St Augustine’s RC Primary School.

* Hartlepool; Eskdale Academy

* Middlesbrough; Viewley Hill Academy, Green Lane Primary Academy

* North Yorkshire; Scarborough Sixth Form College, Rossett School, The Woodlands Academy,

* Redcar and Cleveland; Saint Gabriel's Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Saint Peter's Catholic College of Maths and Computing, St Mary's RC Primary School, Saint Paulinus Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School

* Stockton-on-Tees; Stockton Sixth Form College, Thornaby Academy, Abbey Hill Academy, St Bede's Catholic Academy, Green Gates Academy.

David Laws, the Liberal Democrat schools minister, said: “This will help to ensure that children across the country can enjoy school and sixth-form college buildings, which are safe, good quality and fit for learning.

“We know that being taught in school buildings in poor condition can have an adverse effect.”