A SMALL primary school is launching a big fundraising campaign to create an information technology centre.

Staff at Mill Hill Primary School, in Northallerton, have set out to raise £15,000 towards the cost of building the suite, which would include 15 computers, on the school site.

The fundraising drive is being organised by a specially-established committee, and headteacher Eric Watson said that the school would be looking for support both locally and nationally.

The proposed suite, which would be created as an extension to the school building, would provide the school's 290 pupils with access to the Internet and video-conferencing facilities.

Mr Watson said last night: "It is a vision which we would like to put in place for the children here.

"If we have a new IT suite we can get a class in at any time and teach them the basics they need to develop themselves further."

The committee is planning to tap into grant funding from several national bodies, as well as appealing to local traders for their support.

Mr Watson said he would be happy to name the suite itself or certain areas after any companies that pledged support.

"We will have other money coming on-stream in a few months' time, but we have decided to get this moving now so we can have it for the pupils as quickly as possible," he said.

"We will be looking for sponsorship locally and nationally, and looking into the possibility of accessing various grants. It is quite an ambitious project for a primary school."

The total cost of the project is expected to be about £24,000, but Mr Watson said the local education authority would match the £15,000 the committee is hoping to put up, giving a total of £30,000.

The fundraising group, made up of staff, parents and governors, will be meeting in the near future to draw up plans for the scheme.

Mr Watson said it was hoped that the facility could be in place by the end of March next year