Anger at Tudhoe school items found smashed or for sale online

CAMPAIGNERS who tried to save an historic school from demolition have been angered to see items from the building smashed up or for sale on the internet.

Hundreds of people signed a petition against demolition of the former Tudhoe Grange School, on Durham Road, Spennymoor, which closed in 2012 when it merged with Spennymoor Comprehensive and transferred to Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form College, which was developed on the Spennymoor site.

They had hoped the 1912 red brick building, which found small screen fame as a set and production base for BBC police drama George Gently, could be retained and redeveloped.

But Spennymoor Learning Community Trust and Durham County Council said the site needed to be cleared so it can be sold to generate cash for local education.

Last week heartbroken campaigners, including many former pupils, saw the landmark building razed to the ground.

They were then shocked to see features including the wooden front doors and a piano smashed among the rubble.

Other items such as teak worktops, oak cupboards, 1950s wall maps and George Gently props have also been spotted for sale online.

Campaigner Claire Coverdale said: People have had to accept we did our best but couldnt save the building, what rubs salt in the wound is how indiscriminate and wasteful it has been.

The utter waste is shocking, stone arches and chimney pots should surely have been salvaged, and things people care about such as sports trophies werent taken to Whitworth Park but thrown in a skip which is really upsetting.

The place has been pulled down around these beautiful, valuable items that people have dear memories of.

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Anger at Tudhoe school items found smashed or for sale online