BUILDING work on a £1.2million extension to a high school in Oswaldtwistle was due to begin today with county council chiefs laying the first stone.

The scheme is the product of 18 months of careful planning which will unify Rhyddings High School, Haworth Street, into one site for the first time in its 70-year history.

The grant from he Department of Education allowed the school to go ahead with plans to build a state-of-the-art two storey technology block, giving the school's 1,060 pupils the benefit of modern multi-media and technology units.

The work means from about the middle of March next year, technology pupils will not have to take their lessons at the former Accrington Technical School, walking along the busy Union Road to get there.

The purpose-built facility was the result of a partnership between Lancashire County Council and Preston-based Conlon Construction Ltd.

Country Councillor Hazel Harding said: "This project is one of the UK's so-called Movement for Innovation authorities, and is a way of working which allows local authorities to work in partnership with contractors.

"Councils across the country will be looking at the success of this scheme to see how they can develop partnerships to give better value to their schools.

County councillor Dorothy Westell added: "I was immensely proud to be invited to lay a foundation stone for this new extension. As a former pupil, the day is especially important to me and the scheme is great news for Oswaldtwistle as it means better education facilities for local school children.

"I know that everyone at Rhyddings is very excited about the project and the pupils will learn a great deal about the construction industry at the same time."

Headteacher Barry Burke said: "We are delighted to welcomer two high profile politicians to Rhyddings, especially as they both have strong connections with the area.

"Our new extension will benefit our work at the school enormously.

"And I look forward to holding a similar event when the extension is complete."