A SCHOOL in north Durham has been awarded £150,000 to create a new synthetic pitch suitable for a range of outdoor sports.

The Hermitage Academy at Chester-le-Street secured Olympic legacy funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund through the National Lottery to convert its old all weather pitch.

Academy principal Jim Murray said: “We are delighted to have secured this investment, which means we can upgrade the quality of our sports facilities to match the quality of our teaching in this fantastic department.

“It is the cornerstone of our strategy to have outstanding facilities to match the optimism and ambition created from the 2012 Olympics’ legacy.”

The school is hoping to jointly fund part of the project with English Hockey Foundation.

Sport England chairman Richard Lewis, said: “This National Lottery investment is helping us deliver a lasting sporting legacy Durham from last year’s successful Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“With so many clubs in the North-East having benefited from this fund already and building on the success of last summer, this is the legacy people want for their local community.”

The news was welcomed by North Durham MP Kevan Jones.

He said: “I am very pleased to hear that the Hermitage Academy has been awarded Inspired Facilities funding.

"I know that the Hermitage already offers great sporting opportunities to its students and the local community, and I am sure the new pitch will be a fantastic addition.

"It is great to see a school, and young people, in my constituency benefitting from the Olympic Legacy.”