PUPILS will benefit from new facilities thanks to a £2m development.

Pupils returned to Durham High School for Girls this week as builders began work on a new science, computing and library block.

It has been funded by the school's Building for a New Century appeal, started to provide extra facilities for the growing number of pupils.

The block will house six science laboratories, two computer rooms and a library/resources centre on the school's site at Farewell Hall, Durham.

A spokeswoman said: "Science subjects are particularly popular with the high school's A-level students. Recently, outstanding results have included 100 per cent at grade A in biology in 2002.

"Many girls opt to study science and science-related subjects at university, and our new labs will prepare them well for this."

The new computer rooms will nearly double the current provision, providing 42 networked PCs with broadband internet access and a central teaching area.

Work is due to be finished in time for the September term