The media department at Darlington College of Technology has been designated a Centre of Vocational Excellence in a new Government initiative.

The centre - which will bring in more than £500,000 of investment - is part of the journalism, media and the arts department, which is nationally renowned for its journalism and design training.

College Principal, Sarah Farley, said: "We are absolutely delighted.

"We already do excellent work in this area and have a national profile in the journalism training field. This will enable us to further develop first class training programmes for students and for industry across the board."

The college was one of 70 selected from 370 applications nationally to the Learning and Skills Council. It is one of six designated in the Northern Region and the only Media CoVE in the region.

It will further develop teaching and training in digital production and design in areas including journalism, photography, graphic design, television and radio to make it one of the most modern facilities in the country.

The journalism section already works in partnership with a number of national and regional companies. It provides training nationally for trainee journalists in the Newsquest Group - of which the Northern Echo is a part - and has had record-breaking successes.

Learning and Skills Council chief executive John Harwood said: "These centres will underpin a modern further education sector, contributing fully to the nation's vocational skills and the drive to boost competitiveness."

The £100m three-year initiative is aimed at improving vocational skills by developing a nationally co-ordinated network on CoVEs. The next phase - the submission of a college audit and development plan - ends on March 15.

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