THE first phase of an £8 million building programme at an East Lancashire college was officially launched by the High Sheriff of Lancashire.

Rodney Swarbrick picked up a shovelful of cement to officially start the major building project yesterdayat Accrington and Rossendale College's main site in Sandy Lane, Accrington.

The new building will provide a purpose-built workshop block for the college's construction motor vehicle and other trades department.

College principal Michael Austin said, when completed, the project would boost education and training opportunities across East Lancashire and for local people in particular.

The new workshop block will house more than 1,000 students, many of whom currently train at rented premises in Eagle Street, Accrington.

Others who are already on the Sandy Lane site will also move into the new building when it is completed in the autumn

The new workshop will be paid for by a grant from the Further Education Funding Council, which will cover around one third of the £5 million cost, and the rest by a bank loan.