SCHOOL buildings across East Lancashire are set for a major facelift after the Government handed education bosses a multi-million pound early Christmas present.

Ministers announced a capital investment package worth more than £75million to the county's schools.

It is part of an £800million nationwide investment in buildings earmarked for 2002-2003.

Blackburn with Darwen will receive £2.1million.

And Mahfooz Hussain, the council's executive member for education and lifelong learning said: "We welcome this allocation which is an improvement on last year.

"Improvements will include such things as the replacement of heating systems, roofing works, windows, new toilets, internal improvements, replacing mechanical and electrical services, and extending and partial replacement of school buildings."

A full programme would be drawn up by February or March for consideration by the council's executive board.

Meanwhile, Lancashire County Council-administered schools will receive a massive £70million-plus capital allocation over the next two years.

A County Hall spokesman said the package of grants amounted to an unprecedented investment in the county's school buildings, which would change the landscape of learning in Lancashire.

He explained that schools throughout the county, including those which County Hall administers in East Lancashire, would benefit from more than £16million of improvements this year with a further £23milion next year.

The government also announced an additional £3.5m to add to last year's allocation. Additionally schools will receive a share of more than £9million directly into their budgets this year, rising to £15million next year to assist with their own improvement plans.

A further pot of £2.5million will be available over the next two years for Lancashire schools to bid for new projects.

Seven specific school building schemes have received County Hall's go-ahead today, including £553,000 for physical education facilities at St Cecilia's RC High School in Longridge.