YOUNGSTERS in Bamber Bridge are one step closer to moving into a new, multi-million-pound school.

Although Cuerden Church Primary School was created last September work on a new building has not started.

Now a bid for government cash has been granted, giving the new building the green light.

One person who is especially pleased is head teacher, Denise Sanderson, who has a ten-minute walk between the two buildings.

Mrs Sanderson said: "Going back and forth between the two sites can be difficult, but it is quite nice for the infants and juniors to have their own buildings for the time being."

Cuerden Church school was created following the amalgamation of Bamber Bridge Methodist Primary School and Bamber Bridge St Saviour's Primary.

But since then the sites have been split, with infants in the old St Saviour's building in Church Road, and juniors half-a-mile away in the Methodist primary school building in Wesley Street.

But now the Government has handed the school £1.68million toward the estimated £2.1million cost of building a new school which is expected to open in two years.

Mrs Sanderson said: "The new building will make a huge difference for my staff and pupils. We will be able to deliver a 21st century curriculum in a 21st century building which is great news."

The new 210-place school is to be built on the site of the former methodist school and work is expected to start next year.

The St Saviour's site is likely to be sold to raise cash.

County council education boss Councillor Alan Whittaker said: "Our staff have worked extremely hard and in close partnership with Cuerden Church School on the bid for the government funding.

"I'm delighted that the amalgamation is proving to be such a success story and look forward to visiting the pupils and staff when they have moved into their new building and can all study and work together under one roof."