A MULTI-PURPOSE state-of-the-art sport and arts facility is to be officially opened in Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street this week.

The £475,000 project at St Bede's Primary School includes a sports hall and changing area, classroom, community office and refreshment area.

The project was funded by a £340,842 award from the joint Government and lottery-funded scheme, Space for Sport and Arts.

Durham County Council and the Diocese also contributed £134,158 to the development, which will be formally opened by North Durham MP Kevan Jones on Friday.

Headteacher Harry Thomason, said: "We're delighted to have these new facilities on our school site for the children we teach and for local people who want to participate in sport, enjoy the arts and be part of a thriving community.

"It allows us to teach many different aspects of the PE curriculum in a warm, safe and enjoyable environment for learning, and provides lots of new activities out of school hours for our pupils."

The development, which is one of seven similar projects in other primary schools, marks the final stage of the Space for Sport and Arts programme in the county.

The award was part of a £134m national programme, which benefited around 300 primary schools in 65 local education authorities.

Coun Neil Foster, Durham County Council's cabinet member for education, said: "This new development is something for the people of Sacriston - boys and girls, men and women, those from low income groups, all ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities - to use, support, contribute to, learn in and enjoy.

"If this type of investment enables the young people of Sacriston to start to participate in PE, sports and the arts, encourages them to stay involved in these activities, and ultimately allows them to succeed and reach their full potential, then it's money very well spent."

In 2001 the county council was awarded £3.5m of Lottery funding from the Department for Culture Media and Sport to build new facilities at primary schools that would lead to improved education standards, build communities and ensure social inclusion in areas of greatest need.