NEARLY £25m is to be invested in massive redevelopment projects at the two secondary schools in the west end of Darlington, it was announced yesterday.

The Government said the money would dramatically improve Hummersknott School and Language College, and Carmel RC Technology College.

Council chiefs last night hailed the development as critical to the future of education in the town - and pledged that future funding would upgrade Longfield and Branksome schools.

Darlington Borough Council secured £20.7m from the Government's Targeted Capital Fund - the biggest allocation for any authority in the North-East.

Altogether, the Government pledged more than £63m to rebuild the region's schools.

Hummersknott was awarded £11.6m and a further £2.7m will be contributed by the local authority.

Carmel has received £9.1m and, as a voluntary-aided school, governors will have to add a further £900,000.

Council leader John Williams said last night: "It's tremendous news - since 2001, we have brought in more than £100m of capital investment for Darlington schools."

Officials said that 40 per cent of the Hummersknott site would be replaced, with the remainder completely refurbished.

The Trinity and Edinburgh blocks, to the rear, will be torn down. The scheme will also see the various departments - some presently spread over two floors - brought together.

Temporary accommodation may have to be erected during the work, which is to start next April and take two years to complete.

Headteacher Pat Howarth said the money was "the perfect present" in the school's 50th anniversary year.

Improvements to Carmel have been made recently and the £10m will finish the job. The science and maths departments will be among facilities replaced in the two-year project.

Headteacher Jim O'Neill said: "This is an exciting time for the college, as it can now build teaching areas suited to the modern developments in educational thinking.

"The college has had to contend with crumbling buildings, with classrooms too small and unfit for the delivery of the modern curriculum."

Council children's services director Margaret Asquith said the authority would now not need to look at any further changes until 2010/11.

Rumours about the future of Branksome and Longfield schools have been circulating since the plans to bring Hurworth and Eastbourne comprehensives together on one site surfaced.

But Mrs Asquith said: "What we'll be able to consider now is significant improvement in Longfield and Branksome.

"We'll be able to invest what the council has available for schools into those two."

Darlington MP Alan Milburn, who lobbied for the cash, said he was delighted to see the Government "investing in excellence" in the town.