AN exhibition, celebrating a £3.5m investment programme in primary schools, has opened in Durham.

Durham County Council was awarded the Government grant through Sport England to build facilities for sports and arts at nine schools.

Construction work on the first project - Ropery Walk Primary in Seaham - will start in December.

Multi-purpose sports halls, arts classrooms and outdoor games areas will be built, all of which will be available for community use.

The council's PE inspector, John Mitcheson, who is co-ordinating the scheme, said: "This is a very exciting initiative which will have a massive impact on recreational and learning activities, not just for the schools, but for the communities in which they are situated."

The exhibition, featuring children's work, runs until 4pm tomorrow in the Durham Room at County Hall.