PLANS for a synthetic multi-sports play area at a special school could move forward this week.

Meadows Special School, Whitworth Road, Spennymoor, County Durham, wants to create the area on semi-derelict land near its main building.

The school caters for youngsters aged 11 to 16 with education and behavioural difficulties and is expecting its roll to rise from 23 to 50 in the coming year. On Thursday, Durham County Council's planning committee will be recommended to give the scheme planning permission.

The authority's head of planning, John Suckling, said in a report: "Hard play areas within the school grounds are limited.

"This sports area would provide additional play facilities for the expected increase in the number of pupils.