PERFORMING arts students at Stockton and Billingham College staged the last show at the college's old campus, before moving to a riverside complex at Thornaby's Teesdale site.

Students performed The Jungle Book to an invited audience which included current and former students and staff .

Guest of honour was actor Richard Griffiths, who appears in television's Pie in the Sky as well as the 1986 cult movie Withnail and I.

A former Stockton and Billingham student, he is still a keen supporter of the college.

Principal Margaret Armstrong said: "The Jungle Book was the most ambitious project ever undertaken by the college, with the biggest ever cast.

"Guests were astonished at the stage design, costume production, direction and performance and entertained throughout."

This year, the college was designated a centre of vocational excellence in performing arts - one of only two such colleges in the country.

Mike McGrother, head of performing arts, said "While this performance marks the end of an era for Stockton and Billingham College theatre, we move to the new building in January and become Stockton Riverside College.

"Students will benefit from the modern performance facilities at the new site, which include a studio-theatre and dance studio, which will help equip them with the range of skills they need to work in the industry."

The college's 7,000 students are gearing up for a new era when they come back to study for the first day of the term next week.

Instead of attending the old college, which has stood on a split site since the 1950s, they will go to the £16m college at Thornaby.

Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife, Cherie Booth, opened the site last week.