A £36.1m investment for two new schools to be built on one site in Hexham has been given the go-ahead. 

Planning permission was granted on Tuesday for the new buildings, which will see Hexham Middle School and Queen Elizabeth High School pupils all located on the current high school site. 

The project will see the retention and refurbishment of the Grade II listed Hydro building and Westfield House, with new buildings constructed to the south and north of these.

There will also be new access points, car parking, bus parking and landscaping, including a new community garden area.

Unanimous approval was given by councillors on Northumberland County Council's strategic planning committee, despite concerns raised by residents who had formed the Hydro Neighbourhood Group. 

See more in this week's Hexham Courant.