THE £7million contract to build a new college in Rawtenstall has been won by a Manchester-based construction firm.

Bardsley, which has also worked on colleges and schools in Rochdale, Blackburn and Blackpool, will sub-contract out around half the work on the Alder Grange Community and Technology School.

Planning permission was granted on November 9 and work will start this month, with completion by the end of 2010.