The cash from the Big Lottery Fund has been awarded to four schools in Darlington to introduce more young people to the arts.

Longfield School, North Road Primary, Corporation Primary and Harrowgate Hill Primary schools will use the money to provide out-of-school activities.

Among the areas covered will be creative writing, puppetry, digital art and performance poetry.

The money is part of the extended school programme which aims to make schools the centre of communities.