MORE than £100m has been spent on County Durham school buildings during the past six years, but more work is still needed.

A total of 307 schools have benefited from a huge cash injection in projects ranging from a new sports hall to the building of school.

Increased Government funding combined with Durham County Council's extensive investment programme, are the main reasons behind the improvements, which total £100,590,000.

And the £100m figure does not include funds which have gone directly to schools for repairs and maintenance. There is, however, much more work to do and the council is still facing a maintenance and repairs backlog which exceeds £118m.

Durham County Council leader Ken Manton said yesterday: "It is no secret that there has been a need for massive investment in schools in County Durham for many years. While the council has endeavoured to do what it can, adequate funding simply has not been available.''

But the overall picture, he said had changed in recent years and new opportunities were being presented all the time.

He said: "Government packages such as New Deal for Schools mean that at last we are able to target significant levels of funding at the infrastructure of our schools.''

Coun Manton said that Government commitment to further funding meant the county was now able to plan ahead and make a real difference to the fabric of school buildings.

Examples of the investment programme include a new £2m school in Catchgate, near Stanley, a new £1.85m primary school in Peterlee, and a new sports hall at Ferryhill Comprehensive that cost £943,000.

Coun Manton said: "New opportunities for funding are being presented all the time, so while the environment is more complex than it was, the end result is that we are spending more money on our school buildings.

"That can only be good news for everyone involved as it means teachers and pupils will be able to work and learn in vastly improved surroundings."