A COMPUTER centre has been created at a County Durham school to help teachers bring the latest technology to the classroom.

The centre, with 30 laptops and interactive whiteboards, was opened in a ceremony at the Hermitage School, in Chester-le-Street, by North Durham MP Kevan Jones.

It will be used to instruct teachers from throughout the region on the latest hardware and software available for use in the classroom.

The centre was built in two former classrooms, following a successful bid by the Hermitage to become a regional teacher training centre for information and communication technology (ICT).

Although the centre will mainly train teachers, sixth form students will be able to work on the equipment when it is not being used for training.

Ron Hinshaw, school assistant headteacher and ICT co-ordinator, said: "Not only will our sixth formers benefit from it, but it will also enable us to generate income for the school by running ICT training for teachers.

"We will be responsible for training teachers in ICT in an area that stretches between Berwick and North Yorkshire.

"The centre will put the Hermitage on the map and ensure that the school continues to stay at the forefront of new technology."