ACTOR Tim Healy's school days came flooding back, when he paid a visit to his former haunt.

The Auf Wiedersehen, Pet star had been invited to Pelton Community Primary, near Chester- le-Street, to help the school mark a special occasion.

Mounting repair bills for the ageing Victorian buildings at the school, meant it was top of Durham County Council's list for replacement.

Now the junior and infant school buildings are to be replaced with a £3.2m new facility and last Friday, Tim arrived at the school for the sod-cutting ceremony.

Headteacher Ivor Williams said the star amazed everyone by recalling where he sat in each classroom and the names of his former teachers.

The actor had been brought up in Benwell, Newcastle, and moved to the area when he was nine-years-old. At the time, the junior school block housed a secondary modern, which he attended.

Mr Williams said Tim took time to speak with teachers and pupils and signed autographs for them.

He said: "The building hasn't changed since it was used as a secondary modern.

"It is based around a quadrangle, which the classrooms open straight on to and Tim Healy could remember the snow would pile up against the doors, which would fall in when they opened the doors. It still does.

"We were very impressed with him. He was exactly as he comes across on the television. Very down to earth."

Also at the ceremony were Durham County councillors Jim Cordon and Brian Walker, North Durham MP Kevan Jones, and Hilary Best, chairman of the Sure Start partnership.

The new school will include a 39-place nursery and Sure Start facilities.

It has been designed around eco-friendly principles with additions such as bio-fuel boilers. It also incorporates an IT suite and special needs training area.