YOUNGSTERS who are getting a new school yesterday met the company that will build it.

Representatives of Morgan Ashurst's health and safety team attended the assembly at Eden Community Primary School, in Peterlee.

The school is being replaced with a £4.7m building that will have 11 classrooms, an assembly hall, sports facilities, play areas, an IT suite and Sure Start and nursery facilities Robin Gibson, Morgan Ashurst's senior environmental and sustainability advisor, and Lisa Tootill, the company's safety, health and environment administrator, explained the project and warned of the dangers of playing at construction sites, using Ivor Goodsite, the Considerate Constructors mascot.

"Morgan Ashurst is delighted to be involved with building the new school," said Mr Gibson.

"By getting to know the pupils now, and outlining what we will be doing, as well as introducing basic health and safety information, we hope to prepare the children well for the work that will be going on near them throughout the year, as well as excite them about the entire construction process."

He said pupils would be involved in site visits and safety talks and competitions.