EDUCATION in Burnley is to receive a £5million boost as part of a shake-up of schools in the town.

Three new schools will be created and one will be closed as county hall education bosses try to create new school places in areas which need them most.

The plans were approved by a meeting of Lancashire County Council's cabinet committee yesterday.

A new community school will be created in Rosehill, Burnley, while another will be erected in South West Burnley.

A new community school will also be built on the site of Burnley Wood Primary School, which will replace the existing Burnley Wood Primary School and Todmorden Road Primary Schools. It will have 350 places.

All the schools are being funded with government cash.

Coun Alan Whittaker, cabinet member for education, said after the meeting: "This is great news for Burnley. We can provide schools which meet the area's 21st century needs.

"The new schools will support the needs of the communities around them. They are putting school places where they are needed most.

"We have got the backing of the School Organisation Committee and have consulted the public about the plans.

"Of course, there have been a lot of concerns. Schools are places many people have happy memories of.

"But I think most people appreciate why we are doing this and what great benefits it will bring in the long-term."

The announcement comes just a week after several other Burnley schools were given backing to start expansion work.

The county's development control committee gave permission for Basnett Street Nursery School, Gawthorpe High School, Ivy Bank High School and Ightenhill Primary School to begin development projects.

Basnett Street will get extra teaching facilities, while Gawthorpe High School, Padiham, will benefit from a new sports hall and fitness room.

Ivy Bank will get two temporary classrooms to accommodate the extra 85 pupils the school will get this year, while Ightenhill will get a new dining hall and administrative area.