A SCHOOL has unveiled a series of new facilities that should benefit both its pupils and the wider community.

Sunnydale Community College, in Shildon, County Durham, has ploughed almost £500,000 into upgrading its dining, computing, music and sporting amenities.

They were officially opened by Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman.

The work follows the school's designation as a specialist maths and computing college last year and supports its aims to provide pupils and the town with top grade facilities.

The showpiece facility is a new £250,000 kitchen and dining area with internet access called Caf Hotspot that community groups will be invited to use out of school hours.

The investment has also seen the development of a new recording studio with state-of-the-art mixing equipment linked to the school's music department.

About £75,000 worth of new doors and windows have also been installed in the school's main block.

Ms Goodman enjoyed a trampoline display in the school's sports hall using four newly-acquired Olympic-standard trampolines, a greater number than any other school in the county.

Pupils can use a film projector to watch back their routines to see how to improve.

She also acted as official starter for a cross country event at the town's athletics stadium, part of the school campus, where the running track has been resurfaced.

Headteacher, Sue Byrne, said: "This investment has resulted in a huge improvement in the facilities the school can offer its pupils and the reaction from them to the changes has been tremendously positive.

"But it is not just the young people of the town who will benefit. We are actively negotiating with our partners at the leisure centre to radically increase the community use of these facilities."

Ms Goodman added: "The facilities I've seen are brilliant."