BLUEPRINTS to unite a Padiham school on one site have cleared a significant funding hurdle, it has been announced.

Education chiefs want to merge Padiham Infants, and the neighbouring Padiham Juniors on the former's Burnley Road site.

Now Coun Anne Brown, Lancashire County Council's finance executive member, has given the green light for proceeds from the sale of the near century-old junior school buildings in nearby Victoria Road to be used for the project.

Classes take place within the separate buildings - but juniors still have to cross the busy road between the schools for assemblies.

Plans have been drawn up for a new £2.7million school on the infants site, complete with state-of-the-art facilities, and would see the 98-year-old Victoria Road junior site being sold off.

Proposals include a dozen new junior classrooms, extra teaching areas, including a studio, library and IT suite, new play areas and better staff accommodation.